Guardian Farming | February 2019 by Ashburton Guardian

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NEWS

Head scab rears ugly head

INSIDE

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Canterbury growers are dealing with an unusual disease widespread among their wheat crops that has spilled over from the wet spring. Fusarium head blight is seldom a problem for growers, but has taken hold of their feed and milling wheat after high rainfall during its flowering stage. The disease, also known as head scab, is most easily recognised because immature wheat heads have one or more spikelets appearing prematurely bleached and can lead to quite large yield losses. Where infection is severe, pink or orange spore masses appear on spikelets and fusarium damaged grains are pink or chalky white and shrivelled. Grain from affected crops may be less palatable to stock and can contain mycotoxins - a toxin produced by fungi. Foundation for Arable Research (FAR) research manager Rob Craigie said fusarium at this level was unusual for Canterbury and it was the worst season he had

Arable growers are being told to take extra precautions when harvesting wheat infected with PHOTO TIM CRONSHAW 051218-TC-0086 fusarium head blight.

seen over the past 12 years. The increased disease could be traced to the wet spring, he said. “It’s quite widespread, but how much yield loss there will be is a bit hard to say. Sometimes we can look at a paddock and it looks like there is a lot of fusarium in there, but the loss of yield may not be that high.’’

He said the combine harvesters were working on early wheat crops now for autumn sown and dryland feed wheat and initial results were a “mixed bag’’ so far with reports of some quite low yielding crops. He said yields were good for the only milling wheat crop he had heard harvested so far. “They are anecdotal reports

so might not indicate the final picture.’’ Yield reports so far have included 7.5 tonnes a hectare for a commerciallygrown dryland crop of feed wheat. This was considered disappointing as dryland crops were virtually irrigated initially because of the damp spring. Continued on page 6

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NEWS

Harvest results a mixed bag so far The harvest has yielded a “mixed bag’’ of cropping results so far after a wet spring. Canterbury yields have varied widely during a tricky start and the main difference between good and bad crops appears to be if they copped the worst of a wet December during the flowering period. The harvest is still in its early stages, but already it seems most growers would be satisfied with overall average results once the combine harvester is put away. Yield reports have so far anecdotally included 7.5 tonnes a hectare for a commercially-grown dryland crop of feed wheat. This was considered disappointing as dryland crops were virtually irrigated because of the damp spring. Rain carried through over much of late October to December. The highest plot yield heard of so far is a cultivar trial at FAR’s Chertsey site with the irrigated feed wheat crop yielding 12t/ha. Federated Farmers Mid Canterbury vice chairman Darrell Hydes said his harvest had so far been reasonable, but he had heard of both good and poor yields for an overall “mixed bag’’ result. The poorest results seemed to be reserved for early crops most badly affected by the wet December. His cocksfoot and ryegrass seed yields had lately improved from earlier harvested crops and the same pattern had emerged for feed wheat. “We are mainly dryland and our wheat has gone between 9.5 tonnes [a hectare] and 11.5t and that’s very good because we average 8t. “Whereas the irrigated guys have got similar to us and that is below their average.” His April-sown wheat flowered in early December.

Tim Cronshaw

RURAL REPORTER

He had yet to bring in spring sown wheat. Quite a bit of his spring sown barley crop had lodged – stems bent at ground level and produced average results. Other farmers reported autumn sown barley had also suffered from lodging. Hydes said the difference appeared to be the timing of crops and anything that was in pollination or grain filling stages during the worst of the wet weather in December struggled with some of the later crops doing better. He said an early dryland cocksfoot seed crop had been 50 per cent below average, but subsequent harvesting had resulted in average and then good results. The overall outcome would likely be an average yield, he said. “The crops were all looking good at the end of November and early December, but the rain just carried on too long right through December for pollination and flowering.’’ Hydes’ mainly dryland Methven farm has 50 hectares in irrigated crops. The spring was the wettest he had experienced in many years of cropping. Fortunately, sunshine the past few weeks had provided good harvesting weather, he said. “We started autumn cocksfoot, ryegrass and brassicas and it was wet and we were getting worried, but

we have had a good run since then.’’ Farmers had been on top of fungicides following the wet spring because of disease pressure, he said. Lincoln grower Rodney Hadfield said the wet spring and low sunshine hours had removed the gloss from yields so far this harvest. “We have been doing grass seed and barley and the yields are just average.’’ Hadfield’s farm is mostly irrigated on heavy soils. He said the initial spring rain started promisingly, but December was too wet. He was reasonably

satisfied with average yields, considering the conditions. The barley harvest will be followed by radish into March and April. Last week Hadfield managed to put in good hours on the combine harvester and although the dull weather had not helped dry out crops, he was grateful for the absence of rain. FAR research manager Rob Craigie said the combine harvesters were working on early wheat crops now for autumn sown and dryland feed wheat and initial results were mixed so far with reports of some quite low yielding crops.

He said yields were good for the only milling wheat crop he had heard of being harvested so far. “They are anecdotal reports so might not indicate the final picture.’’ He said the dull weather would contribute to the final crop tally as good sun radiation as well as rain was needed to get maximum yields. “With the rain we generally got more cloudy weather and that might have taken a bit of the top off. There will be some variability around. We need to get into the harvest a bit more to really see what is going on.’’

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NEWS

Farmers on a profitable three-peat Famers are heading for a profitable three-peat as long as their winning streak can avoid offshore risks. A Rabobank report says the New Zealand agricultural sector is poised for a third consecutive year of profitability in spite of “rising downside risks’’. The Agribusiness Outlook report indicates favourable production conditions and strong commodity prices are likely to continue throughout the year for a further profitable year for farmers, in combination with an expected weakening of the dollar. The mostly positive report cautions the risks – particularly those relating to New Zealand’s major off-shore markets – are mounting and have the potential to derail the industry from its unusually long winning streak. Rabobank New Zealand country banking general manager Hayley Gourley said many factors playing out in the favour of farmers last year were set to extend over the year. “The weather has been highly favourable for the agricultural sector in recent months and the outlook for the foreseeable future looks benign. Commodity prices for New Zealand’s main agricultural products are also strong at the moment, and, while prices for some commodities are set to soften modestly in 2019, others should strengthen,” she said. Gourley said the dollar was expected to drift lower over the course of the year, bringing the prospect of the lowest average annual exchange rate against the greenback in a decade. ANZ agriculture economist Susan Kilsby said most primary sectors were generally doing well at

Tim Cronshaw

RURAL REPORTER

Fair weather is favouring farmers.

Rabobank New Zealand country banking general manager Hayley Gourley.

the moment with strong production and prices. In-market prices were generally above long-run averages and the relatively low dollar was resulting in greater returns for farmers and growers, she said. She said excellent growing conditions had bolstered milk production this season and meat processing had been delayed as farmers held onto livestock longer which would result in heavier stock for processing when they

eventually came forward. “In-market prices are average or above for virtually all sectors – with wool the only major exception.’’ The Rabobank report says a slow-down in the Chinese economy and trade disputes between key trading partners shape as the major threats to New Zealand agriculture in the year ahead. RaboResearch general manager Tim Hunt said lower economic growth in China was a concern because it was New Zealand’s largest trading partner for agricultural products. “The Chinese economy grew at its slowest rate since 1990 in the closing quarter of 2018 and while the official growth rate was still 6.6 per cent, many analysts, including our own, believe the deceleration is far greater and risks

worsening through the year,” he said. Kilsby said China continued to become a more important market for New Zealand’s primary produce and the flipside of this was New Zealand was increasingly exposed to the risks associated with a slowing of its economy. Hunt said the UK and EU still had to sort out Brexit. With a no-deal departure a distinct possibility, there was a real risk of a “calamitous exit’’ with heavy impact for two of New Zealand’s key markets. He said the potential for an escalation in the US-China trade dispute was a further threat, as were the flow-on impacts on consumption of a possible US recession and a crashing Australian house market. On the domestic front, mycoplasma bovis remains

a risk. The government will draft legislation on water quality, climate change, carbon farming and biodiversity this year, DIRA legislation is being revised and Fonterra will finalise its asset sale plan. Each decision would shape the future of the industry and being prepared for a tougher operating environment was probably a good idea, said Hunt. Rabobank’s milk price forecast for the 2018/19 season remains at $6.25 a kilogram of milksolids. The bank mostly expects farm-gate beef prices to hold and lamb and mutton prices to remain at elevated levels. Horticulture exports are expected to grow and moderate growth is anticipated for wine exports, subject to Brexit and labour shortage restraints.

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NEWS

Technology making inroads to food Computer scientists are changing the way farmers are looking at the agri-food sector and providing them with new opportunities. They can expect to see more disruption in the food department with robotic kitchens and lab-grown meat already on the menu. KPMG farm enterprise specialist Julia Jones said scientists and food producers were changing the way food was being eaten and widening the menu range. “There’s a restaurant in Boston with a robotic kitchen,” said Jones at the Young Farmers Conference in Christchurch. “Spyce is a world-first and was created by four robotics-obsessed engineers who wanted “healthy food at a reasonable price”. Customers order a meal using a touchscreen, then robots do the rest. Ingredients are dropped into a row of rotating woks, which cook meals in under three minutes. “Disruption in the agrifood sector is coming from computer scientists,” said Julia.

Tim Cronshaw

RURAL REPORTER

Lab-grown meat was likely to become available in supermarkets in the United States in another three to five years. “The only thing they haven’t quite worked out is how to grow the fat and muscle that gives meat its taste,” she said. The world’s food system is worth $US 8trillion. New Zealand earns $40 billion annually from the food it exports. “We have a big advantage on the world stage because we can produce artisan, niche products and demand a higher price,” said Jones. The audience of young farmers heard deer milk produced by Pamu, formerly

Left – Julia Jones. Right – Participants at the AGMARDT NZ Young Farmers Conference PHOTOS SUPPLIED

Landcorp, is being made into ice creams and other desserts by chefs in upmarket restaurants in Auckland and Wellington. Jones said the opportunities to expand New Zealand’s ocean farmed salmon industry were immense. “I recently visited one of New Zealand King Salmon’s farms in the Marlborough Sounds. There were 33,000 fish in one pen,” she said. She said young farmers needed to understand consumers and find out themselves what they wanted and where they were willing to pay top dollar.

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“If you travel overseas, go into an expensive-looking supermarket and see what sort of food is on the shelves. I went to a supermarket in California last year and they had a crazy big fridge with a sign on it that said grass fed milk.” The world’s population is projected to reach about 10 billion people by 2050. Tech Futures Lab manager Sarah Hindle said producing enough food to feed all of those people was a huge jump in calories. Devising ways to sustainably feed everyone posed a

challenge for scientists and food producers. It also opened new career opportunities. “What we see real growth in, is the rise of the agricultural technologist,” she said. “They’ll have an ability to manage technological systems and have expertise in things like robotics, automation, drones and data electronics.” Jones said farmers should plan on “experimenting a little” and diversifying their land use. “Embrace failure. There will be things you try and they won’t work, but keep trying and learning from your mistakes,” she said.

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from page 2

The highest plot yield heard so far was a cultivar trial at FAR’s Chertsey site and the irrigated feed wheat crop came in at 12t/ha. Craige said the wet spring from October to December had increased infection of foliar diseases such as fusarium, which arrived when the plant was flowering in early December. December rainfall was high in Canterbury ranging from 62 millimetres at Chertsey to 177mm at Methven Wet weather diseases such as septoria tritici blotch were

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OPINION

EDITORIAL COMMENT I was chatting to a farmer at a field day and he remarked that Coe’s Ford was full and swimmers were making the most of the heatwave to have a cool dip. He asked why the media wasn’t reporting on this. Good question. He was referring to media reports last year when the swimming hole was referred to as a dying, nearly stagnant “algae-infested pit’’. Gone was the pool of gently-flowing clean water. The safe haven for children of all ages with willows providing cool shade on those hot summer days was supposedly no longer. The ankle-deep green bog in its place was unswimmable. Reading the reports you could be forgiven for thinking that bathing in the classic Kiwi holiday spot was relegated for the past. For years the swimming hole on the Selwyn River has been a popular haunt for

also prevalent in Canterbury and the root disease take-all has been found particularly in second row crops. He said the dull weather would contribute to the final crop tally as good sun radiation as well as rain was needed to get maximum yields. “With the rain we generally got more cloudy weather and that might have taken a bit of the top off. There will be some variability around. We need to get into the harvest a bit more to really see what is going on.’’ Craigie said there had been some incidents of fusarium in wheat cultivar trials for research, including FAR sites, but they had yet to be

“ Tim Cronshaw

RURAL REPORTER

people wanting to cool off. Was this truly over, alarmist reports of no substance or just a dry spell that nature would balance in good time? As for all things, the truth lies somewhere in between. In fairness, last summer Environment Canterbury recorded the lowest water flow at the river for a decade. Water quality as the river receded was poor. Questions were asked of the authorities – was this climate change, a natural cycle? Scientists explained the record low flows were the result of three dry winters

completely harvested. He said it remained to be seen whether the fusarium outbreak was a one-off as

You could be forgiven for thinking that bathing in the classic Kiwi holiday spot was relegated for the past. report of the day – actually with online news the coverage can be as fleeting as hours and minutes. Readers and viewers need to know that what is valid for now is not necessarily so for the next day or year. In return they should expect reporting of times both good and bad. Lastly, never underestimate the ability of the weather to change in New Zealand. Drive over the Selwyn Bridge on the Main South Road and motorists can still see pools of water in the bed. Now, who would believe that as we enter the month of February?

in Canterbury with little opportunity for groundwater recharge and the advance of irrigation. In fairness again, the finger was not pointed at farmers. However, sufficient questions were left hanging that the reader could be forgiven for thinking that blame should be apportioned somewhere. Last April the residue from a cyclone raised river levels from their parched state and unusually wet months in November and December helped restore it to where it was. However, it would be fair to say that the media has long lost interest. It would be timely to raise a couple of points. A news story is merely a

weather patterns were less regular than they had been. Yield losses of up to 30 per cent have been recorded in the

United Kingdom, but this is unusual in New Zealand. Craigie said growers with fusarium in their crops should adjust the fan speed in their combine harvester to blow as much of the infected grain off as possible as it was lighter than non-infected grain. Stored grain should be kept dry. If growers were approaching a narrow dry window for harvesting they should harvest crops with fusarium before non-infected crops as a wet site can exacerbate any mycotoxins. A range of fungal species causes the disease and only some of them have mycotoxins.

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OPINION

Rampant growth results in high cost Sure it was wet in Canterbury until mid-January and we have had our woes. But be blessed that you are not cool climate grape growing in what is normally and notoriously, hot and dry Central Otago. This is a season not really seen - from a wetness perspective - for many years, and one that is trying, expensive and labour intensive. Over the past month I sort of returned to “my roots” substituting as the monitoring technician in vineyards, cherry orchards and carrot seed crops in Central Otago. The last time I penned a column in December it was about how wet November had been in Mid Canterbury. Well, for Central Otago it was no different. It all started when I was there to train a new field technician on October 14 – just in time to see the effect of a 2-3°C frost. It was ugly in some vineyards with up to three shoots/per cane “cooked” by frost. Grapes are an interesting beast because immediately the second shoot springs

The trials of cool climate grape growing in Central PHOTO SUPPLIED Otago.

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HYDRO SERVICES

into life and grows. That sounds like a life saver, and income saver, because these secondary shoots will produce less productive bunches, but at least a crop. The 2018-19 season is truly cool climate growing and Central Otago’s pinot noir crop is right on the cusp of the 950 odd degree growing days needed to grow and ripen the crop. Lose two to three weeks while that second shoot springs into life and, well, you can figure how tight it might become. And the cool climate nature of the season has continued through to February with January 13 nearly producing frost. Following the October frost the rain came and while

it might not have reached the lofty totals we had around Canterbury, rainfall records showed 83mm fell in November and 236mm since October 1 – this in a 400mmodd annual rainfall region. More than half the annual rainfall landed in three months and in the growing season. By January growers would normally have control of the vines, inter-row grass and under-vine weeds. Not this season - the vines have been able to access moisture and nutrients from between the rows all season because of the regular rainfall, and being the consummate “weed” have grown (for Central Otago) big canopies. Furthermore, in an area where most of the vineyards

are bio-dynamic or organic, the inter-row and undervine growth of grass and weeds is prolific. Normally by flowering in mid-December the soil moisture deficit is such that vegetative growth is minimised and the plant’s effort is being partitioned into the grapes. Not this year fully grassed vineyards have had to be mown 3-4 times already with more to come, when normally 1-2 mows would do. Soil disturbance (tipping the soil into and under the vines) to control weed growth has already required three passes and probably one more to come. Big canopies equal trimming and vines have already been trimmed three times and once

more before the nets go on in February, when normally there would be 1-2 trims. There will be extra shoot thinning to expose the fruit, remove laterals (which are prolific) and bunch thin because of the secondary shoot growth after the frost. The cost of running tractors to trim, mow or cultivate will be second hand to most readers. Nor the cost of labour (where the extra hands can be found) for the manual tasks of shoot thinning and other duties. All in a season that likely won’t be the best of vintages. In some cases inter-row vegetation has been left to grow in an attempt to use up the soil water and help control grape vigour – such as the vineyard shown which had been trimmed twice and vigour is still strong with tip growth stretching above the top tucking wire and laterals going wild.

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OPINION

Competition key to making a sale Calvin Leen As the rural property market changes, so do the preferred ways to sell land. Competition is the key to making a good sale. As a salesperson, identifying or creating competition helps achieve the best possible price for a property. However, you also need to gauge how much competition is realistic, based on market trends. Farms are offered to the market by auction, through a tender process, by deadline private treaty, or through a conventional private treaty process. Done well, auctions contain plenty of excitement. They are a form of theatre, giving the vendor three opportunities to sell: before the auction; through the auction itself under the hammer; or if the reserve is unmet, after the auction when motivated buyers have identified themselves and negotiating terms becomes easier. As a vendor, on a good day, with two or more willing buyers battling it out, an auction can

give you a price well above expectations. However, an auction is a public process. Some prefer not to do important business in public: giving the neighbours an insight into a treasured property that may have been in the family

for generations does not suit everyone. In these instances, selling by tender could be preferred, also creating competition under a deadline, though via a confidential process. Setting a tender date creates purpose and concentrates the

market; purchasers indicate what they will pay, lodging a deposit to bid what they deem appropriate. After the tender closes, the vendor can accept any offer, or none, and not necessarily the highest. Under a deadline private treaty, buyers are encouraged

to demonstrate some urgency, though are able to include clauses in their offers such as finance approval, or the sale of another property. While the vendor need not necessarily accept any offer, it may form the basis for ongoing negotiations after the deadline. With a conventional private treaty sale, the vendor engages with the market in an open manner, seeking to identify buyers by putting a price on the property. Recently, with the market tightening and buyers reluctant to commit, more properties are being offered with a price on them, whereas no price marketing can work better when competition among buyers is more intense. If you are considering selling rural property, we strongly recommend that you seek professional advice from your solicitor and accountant, alongside a listing agent, prior to offering your property for sale. It is a team effort. Calvin Leen is Mid-South Canterbury sales manager for PGG Wrightson Real Estate.

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NEWS

Hemp growing a huge opportunity fo About 80 per cent of New Zealand’s expanded hemp growing is likely to be in Canterbury with more growers expected to enter now that legislation has opened the way for more food to be made from its seed. The industry conservatively expects the growing area in the province to increase to 1000-2000 hectares and is already close to 1000ha nationwide. Between 20 to 30 growers have been harvesting hemp with Ashburton company Midlands since trials began almost 20 years ago. Until lately, hemp processing was restricted to extracting oil from the seed, but the way has opened for companies to generate other food from edible seed. Midlands director Andrew Davidson said inquiries had increased for the product as a food ingredient from more mainstream companies over the past few months, moving hemp seed foods beyond novelty levels. He said the company had been involved with hemp

Tim Cronshaw

RURAL REPORTER

since the first trial licences were issued in 2001 and was in a position to step up hemp growing and processing. “Canterbury has the ideal climate and drying, storage and harvesting infrastructure. The grower capability is right here in Canterbury. Of course there are opportunities in the North Island as well, but there is quite a lot of capital investment in putting up infrastructure.’’ Regulatory changes came into force in November to broaden the sale of hemp seed for human consumption beyond oil. Food Safety Minister Damien O’Connor says hemp seeds are safe to eat, nutritious and have no “psychoactive effect”. Industry people hope

the legislative changes will finally distance the crop from marijuana and place it more firmly in the mainstream food market. Hemp has a low concentration of the psychoactive ingredient THC (0.35 per cent or less). Davidson said the local industry had demonstrated that

hemp could be grown well, and the changed regulations would result in better returns from processing more food from the seed. “Hopefully we can see New Zealand hemp seed become recognised around the world ahead of other production nations like Canada, Europe and

China who have already been supplying the global market.’’ The company had put in extra processing equipment to produce hemp seed protein and hulled hemp seed for export and now wanted to increase its commercial scale, he said. He said the seed meal

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NEWS

or Canterbury growers The spring sown crop has a 120-day life cycle from November to March. Hemp seed growing returns about $3000-$5000 a hectare, similar to other break crops, and averages 1000kg/ha. Yields had room to increase from genetic and agronomic improvements, and the expanded food range for hemp seed had the potential to lift returns throughout the industry. Midlands also has an Australian office in Tasmania and has been working with growers there since 2004. Seed dressing and storage facilities were set up there in partnership with Ashburton’s South Island Seed Dressing. Midlands grows similar areas of hemp in Tasmania as in Canterbury and is involved in further hemp seed production on the Australian mainland. Davidson said the company was looking overseas at innovative types of food to be made from hemp seed and combining it with other food ingredients. Future products could include hemp milk and hemp butter.

From left: Midlands hemp growing, harvesting hemp for seed.

produced after oil had been processed was previously sold as stock feed, but it was now being separated further into protein and fibre for flour to provide sought-after products for human consumption. They are expected to be introduced to supermarkets nationwide over the next few

months under the ‘new hemisphere’ brand. Separate from the oil process, there was also hulled hemp seed, where the outer fibre was removed from the seed to produce “hemp hearts’’ a nutritious protein and source of essential fatty acids (EFAs), he said.

This could be eaten as a snack food, sprinkled on salads and other food, as well as made into muesli bars and other bakery and nutritional applications. “It’s a functional and nutritional food to incorporate as a healthy option in your diet. It’s a food rather than just a

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supplement, like quinoa, chia and those type of products. Hulled hemp seed ticks a lot of the boxes in terms of protein, including the quality of the amino acids, but also the EFAs and omegas from the oil content. From a nutrition point of view, it packs a lot of punch.’’ Hemp leaves, stalks and other plant material, however, cannot be processed for human or stock consumption and must be disposed of by raking and burning or ploughing. Since obtaining a trial licence Midlands has worked with the Government to change legislation and open up opportunities for the crop and will continue to lobby for more favourable legislation that will allow other parts of the hemp plant to be better used. This is expected to further increase returns for growers.

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Farming

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PROFILE

Dairy team sharing the benefits of th A taste of hardship in their early years has motivated John and Kelly Nicholls to help their team work towards dairy farm ownership, writes Tim Cronshaw. John and Kelly Nicholls know how hard it is to buy a first farm. They did it the hard way, scraping a deposit together and ignoring advice to call it a day when a 100-year drought squeezed their finances. They persevered through the tough times and capitalised when fair winds arrived. Now, with the comfort of a dairy farm group behind them, the Christchurch couple are doing their best to support their team and guide some of them into an equity stake in a farm. No one ever said that dairy farming was easy. Kelly is in the kitchen preparing lunch at the Hinds clubroom of the Southern Rugby Football Club. Her sleeves would be rolled up if she wasn’t wearing a Rylib Group-branded dress. The group is their jointly owned company of six farms and employs about 30 full time staff. Next door a presenter is plugging their team for answers in a team session with notes scrolled on a whiteboard. Alongside this a nearby screen is fittingly headed The Challenges. Underneath, words are underlined in bold such as ‘time’, ‘resource’, discipline’ and ‘new ideas’. Perhaps 20 team members casually attired or in their work clothes are scribbling down notes studiously. Kelly looks on approvingly. This get-together comes at no small cost to her and husband John, the latest director addition to the boardroom of large dairy co-

Rylib Group leadership team members Sheldon Price, Ariana Tune, Kelly Nicholls, John Nicholls and Murray Bowden. Tim Cronshaw

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RURAL REPORTER

operative Fonterra. She says the bill will be small change compared with the value they get from reinvesting in their team. “When we say people are our biggest asset we are not paying lip service to that. This is part of our training programme at Rylib Group based on the Lean principles. If you look at Toyota their Lean principle is the ageold thing to try and find efficiencies so they can add more time with their families. We have a policy of be home by 5pm for all of our guys. We are a family values-based business at the end of the day and not a corporate dairy farming business.’’ If everyone becomes more efficient 15 minutes a day that adds up to more home time, she says. “Anybody that wants to train, whether it be in the dairy industry or not, we have a training regime of go and do it. If you pass we pay and if you fail you pay. We don’t mind spending money on personal growth because that investment gets returned back. For an industry which is inherently quite high on staff turnover we are proud of our turnover numbers and we do believe we treat our people

very well.’’ The couple are the only shareholders of the group, but they have created equity opportunities for the “right people’’. Two of their farm managers have 10 per cent equity in two of their farms with another manager likely to take on the same investment. Another manager who was with them for 15 years has bought them out of their North Island farm. “We want young people in some sort of ownership that never would have had the opportunity to do that. If they weren’t in generational farming how on earth would they have ownership and land? We had an opportunity to get ahead, but it was just very, very hard work and a lot of risks. We had an appetite for risk which didn’t worry us so much at that point, but it’s not to say it wasn’t a long hard slog – it certainly has been.’’ In 25 years they have gone from a zero to a $100-plus million business. A year after the first child was born in 1995 they bought Kaiwaiwai, a 205ha sheep farm in Featherston, and converted it to dairying, building up the herd to 440 cows. Continued on page 14

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PROFILE

he Nicholls’ early hard yards

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PROFILE from page12

Rylib Group co-owner Kelly Nicholls.

The euphoria of that was short lived as drought in just their second season brought them back to earth. They were advised to cut their losses and go bankrupt. That wasn’t an option, says Kelly. She went back to work in Wellington which paid the wages for a manager and part timer and they hired a nanny and worked “every hour that God gave us’’. Over the next three years they drew virtually nothing from the business, pouring any surplus into attracting top people and developing their business model. Only after getting through these tough times did they set about expanding, initially buying a neighbouring 71ha block in Featherston. Added to this was another 140ha, which they deconverted, improving the irrigation system, splitting it up, and selling parcels off. Their initial entry into farm ownership would be unrepeatable today. After returning from travelling in 1992 and with only 10 pounds and backpacks on their back they looked for work. John became a

fertiliser representative and Kelly was in sales, initially in tropical plants and later travel, with both progressing into management when they came across the opportunity to buy Kaiwaiwai. Approaching the bank manager, they told him they had a $50,000 deposit. That might have been a “little stretch of the truth’’. John was raised on a sheep farm, completing an agriculture degree at Massey University and working on cropping farms in England where he met Auckland-born Kelly. If they have any regrets looking back on the past few decades, it’s that they could have got their life-work balance more in line. That is why they are so adamant that their team are home as close to 5pm as possible to spend more time with their families. “It’s something that John struggles with to this day. We have just had our first grandchild and he says ‘gosh I missed out on so much’ so we are trying to change that for our team. You learn and get wiser. We have done well and have enough and we want our people to do well too.’’ On their first farm in the

Wairarapa John made the decision to wrench himself from hands-on milking to build the business. Kelly says John started looking at the business and not in the business the day he walked away from the milking shed. “He also did the Rabobank Executive Development Programme course overseas and that was a big trigger for him looking at structures and ways forward that were bigger. We always knew that we wanted to do the best we could and start a footprint we could be proud of for our generationals moving forward.’’ John realised that he needed to get out of the shed, employ top people to run the day-today aspects of the farm so he could focus on driving the business to produce the results they needed to get into a growth position. The change of focus was the catalyst for them to begin buying their other blocks in Wairarapa. But their growth really picked up when they moved to Canterbury. They bought Ma Taua and Fairmont Farm in Mid Canterbury after selling Kaiwaiwai in 2005.

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www.guardianonline.co.nz On a roll, they added Delarbe Farm in Hinds in 2008 and Hauroa to their portfolio in 2009, bringing their total milking platform to 865ha producing 1,700,000 kilograms of milksolids. The investing pattern continued in 2013 when they took on the 340ha Haslett Block, a sheep farm which they converted into twin dairy farms, each milking 780 cows. Two years later they bought and converted 214ha now known as Akitu Dairies which milks about 820 cows. By the 2017/18 season the combined six properties of 1275ha produced 2,500,000kg of milksolids. The decision was made early to live off-farm and base themselves in Christchurch with their children Ryan and Libby - the inspiration for their company’s Rylib name. Their office is on the same site as the family home on the outskirts of the city. Stepping back from the farms also allowed their managers to run them without feeling the owners were breathing down their necks. “It’s very easy to say you trust somebody or trust something but to let them go and do that means that you do,’’ says Kelly. “We have

got good simple systems and these guys are really good at implementing them and adding value to them and teaching them.’’ Weekly farm reports are sent to the office by the managers and at a monthly meeting metrics are compared with other operations. The wider group’s goal is to be the top 2 per cent for business performance among dairy farms nationwide and their environmental footprint to be “minimal’’. A waste initiative they have begun includes branded shopping bags and they no longer bury rubbish on farms. The couple have found each other’s strengths are complementary and they work well as a team even during the tough times. When they didn’t have support they had to lean on each other. They also found they could identify opportunities and grasp them when they were in the right time at the right place. When they bought a small block up north and the centre pivot couldn’t reach the corners, they sold them to a vineyard and that money helped them move south. When they bought their first Mid Canterbury farm, Ma

PROFILE Taua, 15 years ago they traded surplus irrigation shares. Among their strengths, John is intuitive about water which has been a big part of their growth and is financially savvy, while Kelly leans towards the people-side and she likes to give, see them grow and do well. They believe in giving back to the community. Hundreds of flu jabs are given free to local people surrounding Hinds. Having a healthy, strong community around them is worth the cost. Hinds School’s local lamb and calf day is sponsored by them and they have been known to help people in need. They support their staff who perform various voluntary duties in work time. There are leaders on school boards and rugby clubs and volunteer firefighters among the group and one of them is involved in search and rescue locally. If someone is missing in the bush for a week he is off work for a week and paid. Giving back is the right thing to do, says Kelly. They also hold their own in-house performance awards each year. Continued over page

Akitu Dairies manager Sheldon Price.

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from page15 Invited to the weekend are their managers and assistant managers and their partners, as well as their bankers, accountants, lawyers and sponsors who last year made a hefty contribution towards awards. Awards go out to the top achievers for farm of the year, nearest to budget, six-week incalf rate and farmpride. The farmpride category is judged on their farm, environment footprint, waterways, farm aesthetics, and even the cleanliness of their utes which is worth $2500 from sponsors and another $2500 from John and Kelly. Healthy competition is encouraged, but not at the expense of sharing information. Manager Sheldon Price, 38, runs his team at Akitu and a herd of 840 crossbred cows at peak milking. He is also part of the leadership team. Price says he enjoys working for the Nicholls, who have acted as mentors for him. He likes the way they do business and their values are in line with his and his wife’s. “They are very generous as long as you are doing a good job and [support]

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PROFILE

progression. We have just bought into our farm. Once again through their generosity they helped us into it.’’ He has been dairying off and on for 20 years in between a five-year building stint. His goal is to own a farm or take on a larger share. “There are plenty of opportunities at Rylib too. Rylib is still in a growth stage. There’s nothing stopping us from being innovative.’’ The farms are run in line with “Rylib standards’’ including milksolid targets and sustainable stocking rates, he says. He led the farm’s conversion three years ago, while still milking at the former Hazlett farms. The entire farm was regrassed and refenced with lanes and shed built about six months after the Nicholls took possession. The cows average 500kg of milksolids and are milked in a 54-bail Waikato rotary with cup removers, teat spraying and automated feeding of grain and palm kernel. They are fed to condition in the shed with more feed allocated for lighter cows to even out the herd. Akitu has five centre pivots with sprinklers in the corners. Price says each farm is

run with the same feeding system – pasture based with supplements of mainly grain and palm kernel through the

• • • •

lactating season. Empty rates average about 10 per cent throughout the farms, and the focus is on the

six-week in-calf rate and they aim for anything more than 78 per cent – better than the industry average.

Open top bins for property and garden clean ups, perfect for moving off the farm. • For Casual & Permanent Bin Hires Bins already on a number of farms in the area and casual hire available• Cardboard Recycling

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We also have Open Top Bins on a casual basis, for property clean ups, All provided by a works Company basedtidy in Tinwald. building and Garden ups. • For Casual & Permanent Bin Hires And a Household and/or Garden waste Drum•empty service. Cardboard Recycling • For Casual & Permanent Bi All provided by a Company based in Tinwald.• Drum Hires

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• Cardboard Recycling We offer a regular Rubbish Removal Service, with many local Companies • Drum Hires hiring our Front Loader Bins and using our Cardboard Recycling Cages, a regular Rubbish Removal Service, with many l We also have Open Top BinsWe onoffer a casual basis, for property clean ups, hiring our Front Loader Bins and using our Cardboard R building works and Garden tidy ups. We also have Open Top Bins on a casual basis, for prop building and service. Garden tidy ups. And a Household and/or Garden waste Drumworks empty And a Household Garden waste Drum emp All provided by a Company based and/or in Tinwald.

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hiring our Front Loader Bins and using our Cardboard Recycling Cages, Gary McCormick We also have Open Top Bins on a casual basis, for property Gary clean ups, McCormick Transport Ltd Transport Ltd PO Box 5044, Tinwald, Ashburton 7741 | Phone: 3072100 | Fax: 3072101 building works and Garden POtidy Boxups. 5044, Tinwald, Ashburton 7741 | Phone: 3072100 | Fax: 3072101 And a Household and/or Garden waste Drum empty service. All provided by a Company based in Tinwald.

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PROFILE

The Nicholls are big believers in happy cows.

All the farms have ground moisture probes linked with irrigation systems and some of them have variable rate

irrigation with effluent also going through the pivots. Large ponds provide plenty of effluent storage capacity with

solids distributed every two years or so on parts of the farm which don’t get pivotspread effluent. All the data is collected to provide accurate effluent and fertiliser records. Price is responsible for the nutrient audits required by the regional council and they passed with auditing As. Much of the farm data is accessible by smartphone. Even though the clubrooms are 10km from Akitu, he can dial up to keep track of soil moisture and ground water levels, tap into the cow shed remotely and when the tanker arrives in the evening can monitor milk flows and milk quality. His goal is to win Rylib’s farm of the year award. He’s come close before, but the competition is strong and now that Akitu is maturing he feels he will be in a strong position to achieve this. Over the last five seasons the Nicholls have seen the best and – by recent standards –

the worst of the dairy payout. They got their management team together as soon as it became apparent that the payout was heading south during the 2014-15 and 201516 seasons when the milk price bottomed out to $4.40 a kilogram of milksolids and then $3.90/kg. Every business line “out of the gate’’ had to save $50,000 and they made it their goal to get through the low without job losses. Kelly went back into the office and they brought their cost structure down to $3.30/ kg so it was a period of belt tightening for everyone. By the same token, when the milk price was at $8.40/kg in 2013-14 team members were getting travel vouchers to take their families on holidays in the islands. “We didn’t have the luxury of a pay cheque and Christmas bonuses and branded utes – we were living on the smell of an oily rag and working every hour we could,’’ says Kelly. “So we want it to be different for these guys and it to be family friendly.’’ A healthy problem they have now is getting their assistant farm managers into manager roles. The couple do not discount adding further farms

to their portfolio in the future in order to do this. But this comes with a few provisos. Future land purchases have to meet their personal environmental, nutrient and water standards, support happy people and happy cows and be “blueprint right’’. Any new farms must also be profitable so that their owners can operate remotely and give them enough time so John can continue to hold directorships in other companies, devote time to his new Fonterra director role and give them space to fulfil their personal goal of travelling and spending time with family. This is where their leadership team becomes important so moving forward they can shoulder some of the over-arching duties. Their children will of course be involved in progressing Rylib Group but they would like their key team members also to be beneficiaries and advancing the group when they move aside. Surrounding themselves with quality people at the top of their game who they trust to make the right calls will ensure their legacy lives on after them.

Farming

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OPINION

Research highlights graziers’ skill By John King A report released last October highlights how some Australian graziers have a different skill set that allows them to be profitable while improving biodiversity. These same skills also enhance farmer well being and their ability to achieve farm goals compared with industry elites. The Canberra based National Environmental Science Program report makes a strong case for primary industry to invest in the skills and insights outlined by the experiences of commercial farmers in NSW. While these insights are counter culture to industry practice the report demonstrates their advantages on economic, social, and environmental fronts. When comparing an innovative group of regenerative farmers to Holmes and Sackett Aginsights benchmark studies over a 10-year period, no substantial difference in income per DSE was evident compared with industry elites. Instead researchers found a

Australian David Marsh’s cattle last March just as the drought was starting to bite. His neighbours had been feeding out for two months already. Marsh won the Australian Government Individual Landcarer Award last year for his landcare work. PHOTO SUPPLIED

consistently steadier income and lower debt. This was primarily due to substantially lower supplementary feeding and pasture maintenance costs. Furthermore, while their profits were similar Holmes and Sackett describe their elites as highly profit motivated. Yet these regenerative grazers achieve similar profits as a by-product of focusing on improving land management. This possibility is not promoted as a genuine opportunity by New Zealand

agencies. So while regenerative farmers are competitive financially with industry elites, it’s the social outcomes of regenerative management strategies and techniques that’s excited researchers. Regenerative farmers scored highly with wellbeing. A strong driver of wellbeing is self-efficacy; confidence in their ability to achieve desired life outcomes. The study found regenerative farmers have more confidence in achieving farming goals, especially those

associated with land and water management and production decisions. Farmers in this study were more confident in achieving what they wanted on their farms, dealing with changing market conditions, and meeting farm business objectives than H & S elites. What this insight reveals is that regenerative farmers have more control over their circumstances and feel they can make the right choices with farm decisions, cope well with difficult on-farm conditions, and maintain and improve vegetation, land and water health. They also felt much more optimistic about their farming futures than other farmers. They are less concerned by the current drought. Farmers revealed how regenerative farming had strengthened their selfefficacy, financial resilience, and created more time offfarm to spend with friends and family. Other benefits included more optimism, reduced stress, and pride and enjoyment from seeing improvements to their landscapes. Others spoke of

becoming more aware of their health, in particular what food they and their family ate and the importance of physical activity. Regenerative farming methods do not replace campaigns led by organisations such as Farmstrong that deal with mental health issues. Instead, as the report states, “wider adoption of regenerative farming could over the longer term reduce demands for these services by reducing the numbers of farmers who reach a point at which they have mental health or other wellbeing associated problems that require intervention”. Yet there is not a single New Zealand agency looking at how such farming techniques can prevent mental health issues here. These dramatic findings have thrust the study into a second phase to learn more insights of regenerative farmers. John King specialises in holistic and regenerative farming and is a RMPP group facilitator.

Controlling cows via GPS collars GPS-guiding cow collars that will allow farmers to shift and monitor their herds remotely will go on the marketplace in April. Agritech start-up Halter has been testing the technology on a farm in Waikato the past 18 months and is ready to commercially launch the collar. Halter chief executive and founder Craig Piggott revealed the product update at the NZ Young Farmers Conference in Christchurch. ”We have just finished setting up our production line

Tim Cronshaw

RURAL REPORTER

in China and we have had our first collars off the line come back. We are targeting April as our commercial launch. It’s all happening very quickly.” The Auckland-based

company developed the GPSenabled collar which allows cows to be guided around farm using a smartphone app. The technology also gives alerts when cows are on heat or calving, detects lameness and alerts farmers immediately and establishes virtual boundaries around farms to keep cows out of waterways. Piggott said the system used audio and vibration to train a cow. “The smartest cows only take two hours to train. The farmer then has the ability to

use the remote technology to shift the cows around the farm.” The solar-powered collars would reduce labour and infrastructure costs, he said. ”The collars can be programmed to bring the cows to the milking shed at certain times and identify cows on heat. The collar has huge animal welfare benefits, especially on larger farms. If a cow stops eating because she’s sick or lame, she can be identified sooner.” Virtual fences save time

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by eliminating the need for farmers to erect temporary electric fences. ”We have built the system to work around existing permanent fences. In the long term, a farmer could pull out all their fences and run a completely fenceless farm,” said Piggott He said good gains would be made from improving pasture grazing. The collars will have no upfront cost, but farmers will pay a monthly fee to use the software.

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Farming

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NEWS

Fifth rise in row Dairy farmers looking for stability in the payout were gifted with another rise of 6.7 per cent at the Global Dairy Trade (GDT) auction. That makes it the fifth increase in a row for dairy commodity prices since the December 5 event, led by a big jump in whole milk powder prices. Whole milk powder was up 8.4 per cent since the last auction on January 15, trading for an average of $US3027 a tonne at the February 6 event. Prices increased for all commodities except butter milk powder which was down 3.1 per cent. Farmers were getting nervous until the GDT turnaround in December as prices had consistently dropped since May. Fonterra’s milk price forecast stands at $6-6.30 a kilogram of milksolids after initially being pencilled in at $7/kg last May for the 2018-19 season. Bank economists vary in their predictions, ranging from $6/kg to $6.53/kg. NZX analyst Rob Gibson said the results were, overall, in line with market expectations leading up to the event. He said auction volumes of whole milk powder were down on the previous event, but up 19 per cent on the previous year. “Firm demand from Asian countries is likely to have helped to support prices.’’

“

Farmers were getting nervous until the GDT turnaround in December

Skim milk powder prices lifted 3.9 per cent to $US2534/t with volumes also down on the last event, but up on last year. Anhydrous milkfat (AMF) was up 5.8 per cent at $US5579 and butter increased 4.2 per cent to average $US4445. Leading the commodity gains was rennet casein, up 10.9 per cent at $US5596/t. This was contrary to the decrease in value at the previous event and likely because of smaller volumes. Meanwhile, buttermilk powder dropped 3.1 per cent to $US3158/t which could have been from a lift in volumes at the event. Volume changes can have a bigger impact on prices because smaller amounts of the commodities are sold at the auction. At the auction 177 bidders bought 23,326 tonnes, compared with 27,909 tonnes of product sold at the last event. The next GDT event is on February 19.

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IrrigationNZ chairwoman Nicky Hyslop (right) sees more water storage as a PHOTO ASHBURTON GUARDIAN solution for future heatwaves.

Storage a priority Irrigators say the heatwave over much of New Zealand reinforces the need for more water storage. IrrigationNZ chairwoman Nicky Hyslop said heatwaves were likely to be repeated in future years as hot, dry summers increased and urgent plans had to be made to improve water storage to cope with future demand. “New Zealand is water-rich by world standards, but we often don’t have enough water at the time it is most needed unless we store more water,” she said. New Zealand’s recent average annual rainfall is estimated at about 550 square kilometres by NIWA, and 2 per cent of this is abstracted for human use. Hyslop said the landscape has dried out since a wet spring in many areas. “Soil moisture levels are now significantly below average in most of the North Island, particularly the upper north, over Canterbury, Otago, Marlborough and Nelson and this is increasing demand for water for both domestic and agricultural use,” she said. Drier conditions are forecast by NIWA scientists to continue in future summers in a report on climate change impacts on agricultural water and

flooding. The report highlights that soil conditions are projected to become drier over much of the country, including Auckland, during spring and summer during this century. Average river flows are also expected to decrease in the east and north of the North Island. Hyslop said managing water in the future would need a rethink because of the changes and the population would continue to increase. “Water availability is a critical issue for New Zealand and we need to be planning at a national level for how we will meet this increasing demand for water.” In many countries, developing water storage is increasingly seen as a priority for governments and is centrally funded. Hyslop said irrigators would need to manage their water allocation carefully. “Irrigators have a limit on the amount of water they can use in their resource consent. A number of irrigators will already be operating under river restrictions, while others will need to be planning for the likelihood that water restrictions may be introduced soon.”

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SEED FEATURE

Cross Slot machines now in US market New Zealand no-tillage pioneer Dr John Baker has negotiated a distribution licence with a United States business to manufacture cross slot machines for sale throughout North and South America. Cross Slot IP, based in Feilding, will, as part of the arrangement, continue to supply its opener blades to manufacturers throughout the world. The deal with the unnamed US business gives the company access to half the world’s markets as more than 70 per cent of crops in some South American countries are grown by the no-tillage process. Baker, chief executive for Cross Slot said years of positioning the product in the marketplace by the company had finally been recognised. “This is not just a foot, but a leg in the door internationally for us and is a major step forward in ensuring food production remains sustainable during rapid population growth.” Over 30 years, Cross Slot pioneered technology that has seen openers penetrate

Cross Slot chief executive Dr John Baker with the cross slot machine.

through crop residue or vegetation on top of the soil and sow seed and fertiliser. The company says the process traps humidity, recaptures carbon from the atmosphere, preserves micro-organisms, increases yields and largely prevents carbon in the soil organic matter from escaping into the atmosphere. Baker said the American

contract was the catalyst for similar contracts being negotiated in the United Kingdom, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Africa and Asia. “The end result will see the world being fed either by this low disturbance, no-tillage equipment or lookalike copies.’’ The contract negotiations are in sharp contrast to Cross

PHOTO SUPPLIED

Slot’s financial position a year ago. Baker said a pause in the market had put his company under considerable pressure. “Our response was to downsize the company and focus on the things we were good at. The result has been a resurgence of interest from farmers, manufacturers and investors who saw regenerating

soil health as central to their own future viability.’’ The company’s patented openers were about 50 per cent of the cost of the machines and would continue to be supplied by Cross Slot IP with its headquarters remaining in Feilding, he said. Over the past 20 years the company has sold about $50 million of product in 20 countries. “While it hasn’t made us rich, it’s proved that the science was correct,” said Baker. He said politicians were disinterested about supporting the carbon recapturing no-tillage technology and conventional cultivation by ploughing was still used to sow most seeds in New Zealand. “About 20 per cent of all GHG emissions come from the world’s farmers cultivating the soil to feed its inhabitants. Arable soils have already lost about three-quarters of their carbon which depletes their health. Perhaps that wouldn’t matter but for arable soil supplying 85 per cent of the world’s food.”

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Farming

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OPINION

Heat wave – what heat wave? It never ceases to amaze me how people, or should I say the media, sensationalise small things and make them into something special. Like what a huge thing last week’s heat wave became - wasn’t it just a normal few summer days? In the mid-1980s there was often weeks on end of hot days and Northwest winds that burnt off any grass that wasn’t irrigated. Dust was flying at lambing time, and the grass never regrew till the end of March and into April. Feeding sheep on the road sides became a daily event, then farmers had to feed out some cocksfoot straw that was meant to be hay and after that open all the gates and hope it rained soon. However, the harvest virtually always got done on time even though the results weren’t always as good as they should have been. The grain ended up in the silo and sometimes had to be dribbled out to the ewes over the following months until mating. I guess what I’m saying is, yes last week was hot but isn’t

Chris Murdoch

PROPERTY BROKERS

it summer? With the new year upon us, in fact a full month in, the future doesn’t seem to promise any major changes to the real-estate market with larger farms (that is over $7.5 million or so) not going anywhere. There is no interest and no one even looking in most cases, however, property under these values is still bringing enquiry and in some cases sales. Successful sales seem to be happening when the size and values can be achieved or absorbed by neighbors or near neighbors. I really wonder if this government knows what affect they have had especially in the Canterbury market

by removing the overseas buyers from the larger in size and value dairy farms. I don’t believe NZ has enough capital to purchase and run these bigger units and when

these units sit on the market and don’t sell it puts shivers through the total market. Luckily, lifestyle and urban markets are ticking over quite well but no records are being

broken. All in all, at the moment I cannot see any light at the end of the tunnel for a changebreaker but sometimes it’s the darkest before the dawn.

www.guardianonline.co.nz

OPINION

Much, much more than just a forest The Mt Hutt forest offers a wonderful snapshot of a range of native New Zealand vegetation. Located on the edge of the Canterbury Plains, the forest-clad slopes rise steeply from 500 metres at the Awa Awa Rata Reserve to the treeline at about 900m. At first glance it looks like beech forest but it is more than that. On the eastern side, above the Awa Awa Rata Reserve picnic area, walking tracks lead into the surprisingly diverse forest. As well as beech, there are southern rata, totara and huge old broadleafs, a wide range of small native trees, climbers and shrubs making up the understorey and ferns cover the ground. Clematis and bush lawyer clamber up the trees. This eastern aspect is damp, shady and protected from the nor-wester; on the ridge, vegetation composition becomes simpler, there is a greater dominance of beech and a sparser understorey which reflects the warmer and more exposed conditions.

Mary Ralston

FOREST AND BIRD

At the treeline, beech forest abruptly gives way to sub-alpine vegetation: snow tussocks, flax, manuka, turpentine shrub and astelias. The shrubs gradually make way for more tussocks and alpine vegetation as altitude increases, and on the scree slopes and ridges of Mt Hutt, the wonderful diversity of New Zealandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s unique alpine flora such as scree daisies and vegetable sheep is found. An altitudinal sequence such as this, with lots of different aspects and conditions, provides lots of niches for a diversity of vegetation which in turn supports a range of native animals. Tiny birds such as the rifleman flit through the beech; bellbirds, tomtit and

A misty view from just above the Mt Hutt forest treeline. Under the Mt Hutt forest canopy. PHOTO SUPPLIED

fantails are also found here. One of our biggest forest birds, the kereru or native woodpigeon, feeds on the fruit of the wineberry, fucshia, fivefinger, kowhai and other trees and shrubs. A range of insects, which are food for the birds and lizards, proliferates on the flowers of the flax, manuka and dracophyllum, and do the job of pollination at the same time. Keas, once seen regularly at Mt Hutt, have all

but disappeared from the area, probably due to predation. They are particularly vulnerable because they nest in holes in the ground. This year it is great to see that so far there are few wasps. The cool, wet spring may be responsible, and several years of baiting may have helped. Whatever the reason, it is good news for the native fauna: the honey-dew found on the trunk of the beech trees that is usually robbed by the

wasps is food for native birds and insects, so it is good news that the competition for this food has been reduced. Protecting an altitudinal sequence such as this area of Mt Hutt is very valuable: a lot of habitats and species is conserved in a relatively small area. And the area is very popular with the humans too; many locals and folk from further afield take advantage of the walking tracks through the cool forest.

Farming

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OPINION

Making a microplastic difference As recycling markets tighten and the reality of plastic pollution hits home many of us are wondering what action we can take. Countries around the world are clamping down on plastics with new taxes, bans on single use shopping bags and investments in more recycling facilities. However, this does not tackle the thousands of tonnes of microplastics released into our surface waters each year. Microplastics are tiny synthetic polymers that cannot break down naturally and block the digestive tracts of aquatic creatures such as turtles and birds, reducing the urge to eat and altering feeding habits. As a result of mass industrial pollution they have spread around the Earth from the depths of the oceans to the Arctic and into human bodies where the health impacts are not understood. The tonnage of microplastics identified by the European Environmental Bureau is estimated to be 176,000 tonnes in the EU alone.

Sheryl Stivens

ECO EFFICIENCY

Microplastics were initially coming from manufacturers replacing natural ingredients such as ground nut shells or seeds with cheap plastic beads. Last year the United Kingdom and other countries imposed a limited ban on plastic microbeads in liquid soaps and personal care products. UK authorities are now looking at makeup and moisturisers as well as detergents. The proposed new legislation will also phase out the use of microplastics in products such as fertilisers from which scientists believe they may be entering the food chain. Why do we focus on microbeads when microplastics such as those from broken

down larger pieces of plastic, are more of a problem by volume in the oceans? Plastic Free Seas started the campaign in Hong Kong to raise awareness and get manufacturers involved in reducing plastic microbeads to prevent trillions of plastic pieces from entering our local waterways and potentially polluting our food chain. How can we push for change? • Check what you are buying and using and read the labels on personal care products. Ingredients beginning with ‘poly’ are generally plastics. • Use your voice on social media to raise awareness • Refuse to buy plastic microbead products and check ingredients with fertiliser companies and other suppliers of products and packaging. • Recycle your clean household containers, bottles and cans. • Pick up any soft plastic litter and place it in the waste bin. Together we can make a difference.

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tors such as traffic conditions, vehicle condition, how you drive and any accessories fitted. Offer is based on a 36 month / 45,000km non-maintained operating s at $320+GST. On Road Costs not included. Lease Plan credit criteria and conditions apply. Other terms and Km’s available on request. Offer available until

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Farming

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COUNTRY ROADS

A beauty that’s still a beast Load up your family or grab a few friends and experience the smooth and comfortable ride of the Nissan Navara. With 5-link rear suspension it is as capable and comfortable off-road as it is on road. In the front, the fatigue-reducing all day comfort seats create a neutral posture that improves blood flow to make long rides considerably more pleasant. In the back, passengers will enjoy plenty of legroom plus their own air conditioning. And if you’d rather opt for a little fresh air, there’s the press button sunroof and a rear power sliding window. Whether you’re looking to pull a heavy load at work, or for a weekend away, the Nissan Navara makes it easy. All of our diesel engine models can muster up the grunt to pull a massive 3500kg braked towing capacity. Tackling hilly terrain? Now you can do it with more confidence and control. On an incline, Hill Start Assist (only available on ST-X 4WD model) can help keep you from rolling backwards when you’re accelerating up a hill from a stop. And Hill Descent Control (only available on ST-X 4WD model) helps you maintain steady speed and braking, so you get down a steep grade more safely. The Nissan Navara also has a host of safety features standard across the range: seven airbags including driver knee airbag, Vehicle Dynamic Control, Traction Control System, Anti-lock Braking System, Electronic Brakeforce Distribution and Brake Assist..

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AUTOWORLD TIMARU CH-8211212AN (74%) M6X12B 38.2X27.4, cms width by height

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Farming

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COUNTRY ROADS

Intersections demand extreme care Looking at the records for reported crashes at intersections over the past five years (January 2014 to December 2018), I got the number of 695. Seven fatal crashes, 38 serious crashes with 50 serious injured persons, one 140 minor injury crashes with 213 minor injuries. Then I decided to see what action caused the most trauma. It is when I started to break down the causes for these crashes, that I noticed something interesting. The top three are: 14 per cent had used alcohol but weren’t over the limit. The second factor was failure to give way, so that is not just not stopping, but included actions like pulling out when it was unsafe. Thirdly, some drivers looked, but did not see the other vehicles. I classed this as subconscious blindness. So what do we take away from this? It clearly shows that most drivers are too naïve in thinking other people are always going to do the right thing. That is clearly not the case. However, only a small

TOP 15 CONTRIBUTING FACTORS (CRASHES AT INTERSECTIONS

% OF 100%

102 - Alcohol test below limit (Alcohol present)

14%

301 - Failed to give way at a priority traffic control

11%

375 - Did not check / notice another party

10%

303 - Failed to give way when turning to non-turning traffic

111 - Entering / On curve

131 - Lost control when turning

103 - Alcohol test above limit or refused

331 - Failed to notice car slowing

181 - Following too closely

402 - new driver / under instruction

321 - Did not stop at stop sign

334 - Failed to notice control

129 - Too far left / right

112 - Too fast on straight

101 - Alcohol suspected

portion of drivers would deliberately drive as if the road belongs to them and do not care about their actions or the consequences of their actions. Be prepared to stop for drivers who are going to make mistakes. Whenever I travel, I always assume someone is going to do something stupid.

Even when I use the cruise control and I notice a vehicle approaching an intersection where I have right of way, my foot moves over to the brake pedal so that I will be ready for action in case they would pull out. This has saved me on many occasions. Making eye contact with other drivers seems to

help as well. The majority of road users have good intentions and try to do the right thing, but due to various factors may not be paying attention and then be involved in a crash. We must accept the world around us has changed. Hardly anymore can you drive on a road where you do not come across other traffic. Traffic gaps to enter the road are getting more challenging, especially on some busy roads. Everyone seems to be in a rush. It only takes a moment to make a bad decision. Drivers are encouraged to be patient. You will get an opportunity even if you have to wait a few minutes. Plan your route to

avoid busy intersections at certain times. Give yourself more time for a trip. This is where most things go wrong. Many people leave too late and consequently put themselves under extreme pressure to arrive at their destination on time. The bottom line is. Be patient, be alert and plan for more time. If something does happen on the road, pull over where it is safe and call the people you are meeting with to tell them you are running late. At intersections always check, and check again! – Daniel Naudé Road Safety Coordinator Advertising feature

EVERYONE STOPS AT INTERSECTIONS

Don’t betcha life on it

South Canterbury Intersection Crash Stats $102 million

The cost associated with Intersection crashes

1317

Intersection crashes

Fatal/Serious injury Intersection crashes *Statistics gathered 1 Jan 2014 - 31st Dec 2018

Visit scrs.org.nz for more information

SOUTH ISLAND AGRICULTURAL FIELD DAYS MARCH 27-29, 2019 â&#x20AC;˘ KIRWEE The South Island Agricultural Field Days (SIAFD) promises to be bigger and more diverse than ever. Well known as an event for farmers and contractors to see the latest agricultural machinery, this year it features something for the whole community with an expanded lifestyle section and a Tractor Pull competition.

Farming

www.guardianonline.co.nz

SIAFD FEATURE

SIAFD a huge undertaking for a small Many of the volunteers preparing a Kirwee site for the South Island Agricultural Field Days (SIAFD) are somehow fitting in this work in between harvesting crops. The next month or so is a busy time of the year for farming yet, with the exception of a salaried secretary, the March 27-29 event is run entirely on the good-will of farmers. Committee chairman Rodney Hadfield is fielding phone calls on the combine harvester while raising grass seed and barley crops. He said a team of 22 committee members from Waikuku, Lincoln, Springston, Kirwee, Dury, Sheffield and other Canterbury districts are putting in a lot of their time to make the event a success. Hadfield is on his second term as chairman of the committee which runs the field days every second year and has been a volunteer for 16-18 years. The field days were a lot of work, but each volunteer would say it was rewarding. “You meet a lot of people and

we catch up with a few people too. The volunteers probably couldn’t do it every year and we would have to have a full timer because it’s a busy time of the year with the harvest. Once every two years is ok though.’’ Hadfield wouldn’t be too bothered if snatches of rain interrupted the event which regularly attract 30,000 visitors over the three days. “If it rains a wee bit it’s better because [farmers] can’t do any harvesting so they come to the field days. They tend to turn up and come around a second day.’’ The satisfaction for the volunteers comes from putting on an event that farmers value for the insight it provides them on the latest farm and agricultural machinery. The machinery comes with GPS controls, sensors and the latest technology. This is the third field days held at the Kirwee site. Previously it was run at Lincoln. Hadfield said the tractor pull would make a welcome return to the field days. The event would be a crowd

puller with each team pulling a sledge and trying to make the winning distance. “We are having the tractor pull this year and we haven’t had it for 10 years. Now that we have our own site we have more area to run it. The first couple of years with a new site we had to get everything organised.’’ He said visitors would notice more trees planted and the extra shingle tracks put in the

site would make it easier to negotiate the field days if it got wet. Over the next 50 years the trees would grow to provide shade, shelter and boost the site’s appearance, he said. The only permanent buildings at the Kirwee site are an office and storage building. The “600-odd’’ exhibitors put up marquees for the three-day event which are all dismantled

once the last visitor leaves. Hadfield said the field days had changed over the years, but organisers remained true to the goal of providing an event for exhibitors to display their machinery to farmers and contractors. Good sales were made during the event and inquiries followed up afterwards often resulted in other sales, he said. “All the major brands are

0800 743 723

6A HORDON ST – DARFIELD

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SIAFD FEATURE

l band of hard-working volunteers

there and they have bigger sites this year to display their machinery. This year they have wanted more area.â&#x20AC;&#x2122;â&#x20AC;&#x2122; Exhibitor space was virtually sold out with more mid-sized sites added and they were close to full capacity, he said. At the last event a lifestyle section was added and this will be repeated next month with more exhibitors showing their wares.

Stainless steel tanks the way to go If you have yet to replace your old mild steel tripod fuel tank and you are attending the South Island Field Days at Kirwee, a visit to Petrotec Services at site 782 should be on your must do list. They are suppliers of the Fuelcon range of stainless steel farm tanks. When considering replacement options for your fuel tank some of the key points to keep in mind are: costeffective standards approved tank, a ladder that incorporates a platform or a safety bar option, the tank fuel type embossed on

the side of the pump box by the lockable nozzle, a vent filter and fuel filter. A stainless tank will last across the generations and eliminate rust or corrosion due to the material of manufacture. It will be durable and easy to clean. No need to paint, no rust or pitting. The vent filter and fuel filter will assist in preventing moisture build up, diesel bug or dirt and water contamination therefore keeping fuel clean. Single product storage or split combination tanks are available and will allow for flexibility of

storage options. Whether you require diesel, petrol, diesel/ petrol or diesel exhaust fluid (DEF/Ad Blue) combination, an above ground gravity-fed, or an on ground pump option. Stainless steel is a viable longterm option worthy of serious consideration. Petrotec Services are also suppliers of the Fuelcon range of steel trailer tanks and commercial tanks. As well as agents for the Everlink fuel management system and Logitank containerised bulk storage and dispensing solutions. Advertising feature

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Farming

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SIAFD FEATURE

SIAFD a huge opportunity for farme The South Island Agricultural Field Days (SIAFD) are all about serving the people who want to view farm machinery and look at the latest agricultural equipment. One of the oldest and largest agricultural events in the South Island, the SIAFD goes back more than 65 years. Held every two years, thousands from the farming community throng to the event, held this year from March 27-29 at Kirwee. Without a doubt, the attraction for them is to see the latest agricultural machinery. SIAFD organising committee chairman Rodney Hadfield says interest in this year’s event has been strong and virtually all exhibition sites have been sold. He says the field days provide a huge opportunity for people in the agricultural industry to network, meet customers and view new machinery. “It is an event for people who are really ready to make financial decisions and spend their money. We want them

to come to our event and get their field days deals.” The event brings together farmers, manufacturers, retailers, and technical experts. Power Farming Canterbury No:8 Permanent Y

dealer principal Geoff McCabe says the company has doubled the size of its site at this year’s SIAFD. “The field days are very important to us. They are a great place to show off our

machinery and we showcase our new gear that people haven’t seen before,” he says. “People come from far and wide to the field days to look at machinery. They are very important for customers

because they get the chance to compare all the brands.” Trevor Goodeve is with Canterbury manufacturer Taege Engineering Limited, and he says SIAFD provides an invaluable opportunity.

SIAFD SITE 871

Protecting Your Property

TAKING THE HASSLE OUT FARMERS AS LANDLORDS OF TENANCY INSPECTIONS Invites you to a FREE information evening

We will present what RTI has to offer and bring along other industry experts to answer your questions.

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RURAL TENANCY INSPECTIONS SPECIALISES IN PROVIDING Tuesday October 3rd 7pm Culverden Hotel Thursday October 5th 7pm Blue Pub Methven Tenancy Inspection Services Tuesday October 10th 7pm Railway Tavern, Rakaia Cleaning Tuesday October 17th 7pm Geraldine Heritage Hotel Property Management Advise on Insulation MethINCLUDE Testing TOPICSand COVERED Inspections - Why do them? CONTACT US WITH3 ANY ENQUIRIES 3 Meth Contamination and testing REGARDING TENANTED PROPERTIES.

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3 Insurance discussion around Meth Contamination 3 Insulation and the changes in the Residential Tenancies Act 3 Smoke Detectors

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EVENT OPEN TO ALL Call Rebecca 027 313 2270 for more info

www.rtil.co.nz

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SIAFD FEATURE

ers and businesses MyMilk a stepping The field days gives farmers and contractors the chance to see the latest products and exchange ideas with machinery dealers and manufacturers. PHOTO SUPPLIED

“Because it is in our own area, we can get feedback from our customers on the machinery that we design, build and develop. This ensures we are able to work directly with those farmers and contractors to improve our business.” The timing of the event at the end of March directly helps Taege Engineering showcase its new equipment and set up its winter machinery build programme. At the last event the organising committee introduced a lifestyle section on a trial basis and its popularity has led them to expand it this year. Lifestyle section co-ordinator Michaela McLeod said there would be more than 100 lifestyle stalls. “They will showcase a wide variety of products – from garden sculptures and outdoor furniture to jewellery, clothing, art, plants and food products. Some of the noteworthy stalls include Vege Pods, Container Pools Canterbury and Mt Hutt Pods.’’

“Local producers including Kirwee Bees will also be participating, and we will also have a food court in the lifestyle section with Funky Monkey Bars showcasing their jungle gyms and play equipment next door.” This year will be the first time Tractor Pull has been held at SIAFD since they moved to their new home at Kirwee. Tractorpull NZ Inc general manager Vaughan Coy said the first two days of the field days would be practise days for teams and the competition would be held on the final day. “We will have three classes of competitors – standard, modified and pre-1985. Already a number of people have said they will bring their modified tractors from different parts of the South Island, so it should be an exciting event.” Coy said tractors in each of the three competition categories would pull a sled that weighed a percentage of its weight, which would mean tractors of different horsepower ratings could compete against each other. Entry forms for the event are on the Tractorpull NZ website. There is a 15 tonne weight limit on all entries. Tickets to SIAFD are $20 per day and can be bought at the gate. Children have free admission.

stone to Fonterra

Fonterra-backed company MyMilk is changing the face of dairy, offering a fresh pathway for farmers looking to establish a foothold in the industry and an eventual stake in Fonterra. This initiative has quickly gained traction in the South Island with more than 110 farms already signed up. Based on a strong belief that the co-op model is the best fit for Kiwi farmers, members supply MyMilk for up to five years before having to purchase shares in the co-operative. This flexibility gives farmers time to establish their business so that they can become a fully shared farmer of the Co-operative in the future. MyMilk’s role is to provide farmers with this stepping stone and help to develop their relationship with the co-op. The pathway for entry into MyMilk include those farmers that may be looking at converting a farm or

farmers who are thinking about their supply options and looking to change their milk processor. Get them into their first dairy farm or those farmers that are looking at taking over the family dairy farm. MyMilk prides itself on offering farmers a personalised and tailored service. The focus for MyMilk is to continue to find ways in which to add value to MyMilk suppliers. This is where MyMilk’s connection to Fonterra enables farmers’ access to the skills and resources of the cooperative. Advertising feature

Are you thinking about your milk supply options? Are you thinking about investing in your first farm? Are you thinking about converting? Is your family looking at succession? To find out how we may be able to help come and see us at SIAFD,

Come and see us at the Field Days at site 138 to learn more about the Speckle Park Breed and our Genetics

site 170

M 0274 311 860 Email specklepark@xtra.co.nz

Give us a call on 0800 224 660, or visit us at mymilk.co.nz

www.parkvalespecklepark.com

A pathway to your future

Farming

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SIAFD FEATURE

Farming now a high-tech operation Drummond & Etheridge will have a complete showcase of John Deere technology products on site at SIAFD. The John Deere technology suite contains not only the highest-achieving GPS receiver in the market and easiest display to operate, but also includes multiple virtual tools to help you collect, manage, and utilise in-field and machine data wirelessly. Some of John Deere’s virtual tools include: • MyOperations – an app allowing the farmer or contractor to manage his machinery and maps in one place. • MyJobs – an app for live management of staff and jobs. • MyMaintenance – an app to keep track of service schedules and repairs These apps allow customers to keep track of operations on the go and are synced with John Deere’s suite of online tools – MyJohnDeere.com D&E also partner with several third party companies that allow growers to capture data from applications that have previously been near-impossible to capture, including Greentronics, which enables growers to create yield maps from root crops such as potatoes, onions and carrots. Visit the Drummond & Etheridge John Deere site at SIAFD to learn more about managing your operations on-thego. Advertising feature

FOR THE LATEST IN AGRICULTURAL TECHNOLOGY & PERFORMANCE SEE YOU AT THE SIAFD

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SIAFD SITE NUMBER

L103

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SIAFD FEATURE

Biosecurity, it’s everyone’s business Cleaned and disinfected footwear is an important and highly visible first step that sets the tone for biosecurity at your farm gate. Good footwear hygiene lowers the overall biosecurity risk across a range of pests, weeds and diseases, and gets people thinking about the risks they pose to your business before they step on your land. But, according to footwear hygiene company Jacson3, the process to clean and disinfect footwear has to be quick, easy and visible to be successfully adopted in everyday practice. Master this, director Rusty Knutson said, and footwear hygiene will get done every time, by every person coming on to the farm – without owners or managers having to tell people to do so. “Tromping through dirty footbaths and over dirty disinfection mats or swiping a dirty brush over your boot won’t help protect our landbased industries. Sure, they’re cheap – but when they’re dirty and not used properly, they’re simply not effective. And with the bending, wobbling

and regular refilling that’s required, odds are that without the right equipment, cleaning and disinfecting footwear won’t be done consistently or for long,” Rusty said. Launched in June 2018, Jacson3 specialises in footwear hygiene, offering a unique range of professional, purpose-built tools. “Like everything on farm, you need the right tools for the job, and footwear hygiene is no different particularly when it comes to embedding this important practice in your team and with your visitors.” The PE Boot Cleaner This German-designed and manufactured boot cleaner is a robust, point-of-entry solution. Rusty said it’s the professional and permanent way to ensure all footwear entering a property is thoroughly cleaned. “The PE Boot Cleaner is a small investment in a longterm solution. This sturdy unit makes cleaning expectations clear and sends a strong signal about the importance of biosecurity to your business,” Rusty said.

The addition of Jacson3’s venturi blending pump introduces disinfectant into the water lines, making cleaning and disinfecting even faster. The Jacson Cube® Designed and manufactured in New Zealand by Jacson3, the Jacson Cube® won the 2018 NZ Biosecurity Awards innovation category. Rusty said this compact hygiene station is light-weight and designed to improve existing clean and disinfect footwear protocols. “It’s particularly useful for rural professionals, contractors and those who move frequently between properties, but also for farmers and growers as a point-of-entry or farminduction solution.” He said this completely self-contained unit fits a broad range of footwear hygiene protocols, depending on an organisation or individual’s requirements. Both units are exclusively available through Jacson3. Call (07) 846 0575 or visit www. cleanboots.co.nz Advertising feature

Jacqui Humm and Rusty Knutson have launched Jacson3, specialising in unique, purpose-built tools to make footwear hygiene, fast, easy and visible.

S! D U R IN G F IE L DAY

INNOVATION CATEGORY

LIVESTOCK HANDLING AND FEEDING EQUIPMENT Email - riverdownsteel@gmail.com Call Greg on 0211 433 469

www.riverdownsteel.co.nz FULL ACCESS CRUSH

SARACEN SQUEEZE CRUSH

The full access cattle crush has a flat floor to encourage easy calf training. Two full height side doors on each side (hinged from each end) allows full access with no obstructions to the animal’s flanks. Side doors extended to meet floor. from

The Saracen Squeeze crush features a self-closing ‘Automatic’ bail which is activated by the animal’s forward movement. The head bail is easily adjusted allowing seven alternative widths between 100mm and 250mm.

$6150*

from

$8750*

AUTO HEAD BAIL The head bail is a self closing yoke design activated by the animal’s forward movement. Release handles fitted to both sides. Fully sheeted baffle plates to eliminate leg trapping. Adjustable width yoke with 7 settings between 100mm and 250mm. Lugs and short coupling rods included to fix to yards.

from

$1960*

Come and see us at South Island Agricultural Field Days MARCH 27-29 2019, KIRWEE. We are in the middle section site 272-273

TITAN RECTANGULAR FEEDER We’ve listened to BUILT TO LAST your feedback.

SHEETED HIGH DENSITY FEEDER

It’s totally reengineered.

STR ON GER

HEA VIE

RESERVE YOUR FEEDERS NOW HEAVY DUTY CIRCULAR RING FEEDER FOR WINTER

$1650*

Feeder is manufactured in two sections bolted together. 2135mm (7’0”) diameter x 1450mm high x 670mm deep welded base, 20 feed spaces. May need some selfassembly.

$670* *All prices exclude GST

610mm deep base, 1520mm wide. Has 24 feed spaces - 326.5mm between feed spaces Sold ﬂat packed. Units have corner bracing for added strength. Mitred corner sits ﬂush, giving even more strength and helps the unit to sit square in conjunction with the bracket when animals are feeding.

$1250* HEAVY DUTY TOMBSTONE FEEDER 2285mm (7’6”) diameter x 1195mm high x 545mm deep welded base. Formed into 12-sided shape, rather than one continuous circle. 12 feed spaces. Manufactured in three sections bolted together.

$875*

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SIAFD FEATURE

Maximum build quality We offer a very well made and robust product from our UK supplier IAE.UK, who is the United Kingdom’s leading manufacturer of agricultural, equestrian and fencing equipment This UK company and has 50 years of experience in dealing with standard madeto-measure custom work, and you are guaranteed maximum build quality with excellent value for money all steel products are galvanised in our stockist’s own galvanising plant. Their commitment to research, development and the investment in the most up-todate laser, robotic and profiling machinery ensure that all products are manufactured to the highest standard. Our main core selling area is Canterbury, although we are getting a growing number of sales into the North Island as well as more enquiries and sales now throughout the South Island. Being located at Rolleston means we provide our clients calling in to view our products. Our central location very beneficial to freighting cost, leading to a huge saving for our clients. At Riverdown Steel our role is to get what the client wants at the price range that is suitable for the product needed. We always appreciate an opportunity to help.

Top: Canterbury Crush Delivery. Above: The Titan feeder. PHOTOS SUPPLIED

The most enjoyable part is when a person sees our product and mentions the strength and quality of our product range as well as the pricing being very competitive. Being the first company to go to for great friendly service and product range is what we are striving for. I am only a

phone call or email away from helping you with your decision making. Two years ago, Riverdown Steel introduced the Saracen Squeeze Crush to our range, which today is the best value squeeze crush in NZ. We are getting a good sales spread across NZ and the sales are

still growing. The Saracen Squeeze Crush is manually operated and has adjustable side panels designed to accommodate different sized animals giving variable internal dimensions from 790mm down to 275mm. Side panels have baffle plates at the rear to eliminate leg

traps. A sliding rear gate: can be opened from either side of crush and features a retractable lintel for added safety. My choice is the use of the vet access area which creates a safe working area to allow the operator to walk from one side of the crush to the other. On the operator’s side, there are two half doors and on the opposite side is a full height door. All doors can open fully either inwards or outwards. This winter we are bringing to you an upgraded version of the feeder on skids the Titan Feeder. This rectangular feeder on skids is the ideal cattle feeder that can be used indoors and out. The skids allow it to be easily transported via a forklift and so can be moved around depending on your needs. This feeder is fully galvanised and built to last year on year. Its dimensions are 3000mm (L) x1370mm (D) x 1400mm (H) Quality is a timeless value and we believe that our product pricing represents both good value and quality. We look forward to discussing future needs and how to fit the pricing into a well thought out budget. At Riverdown Steel we like to make things happen that have a good outcome for the everyone involved. Advertising feature

NEW ZEALANDS MOST LUXURIOUS NATURAL SLEEP

The best investment you can make in tomorrow is a good nightâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s sleep. Dreamwool has been delivering on that promise since 1978 with the original Wool Underquilt and now through its range of natural wool filled mattresses. Using Merino Wool and other natural products you will sleep more comfortably on a mattress that breathes, free of hot synthetic foams and fillings and adhesives. Being the only mattress in New Zealand to use Merino Wool, Dreamwool are using plenty of it in your mattress to make you more comfortable. Using up to 7.5kgs in a queen size mattress and even more in the larger sizes Dreamwool mattresses are cooler in the summer and warmer in winter. Using Merino Wool for its softness and resilience and greater fibre density in the mattress we enhance the comfort by using only the best fillings and support underneath. With natural rubber latex in generous layers and with Micro-coils and Danish made Micro Pocket springs our mattresses work in unison with your body supporting and comforting you all night long. Breathing and controlling the bed micro-climate natural products work better. Choose between our Pocketspring ranges, Euphoria, Paradise, Heaven or Icon. Or Natural Latex mattress range, Revolution, Evolution and Original. Made with the purist latex in the world and filled with luxurious layers of Merino Wool.

Come and see us at the Field Days on stand L88 for a better nightâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s sleep. Sleep on a breathable hand-made wool filled mattress with natural products for greater comfort and a better tomorrow...

NEW ZEALANDS MOST LUXURIOUS NATURAL SLEEP

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SIAFD FEATURE

A large range of cultivation parts McMullan Enterprises has been operating for 26 years offering a range of rural supplies for farmers and contractors. We carry a large range of cultivation parts from sweep, reversible points and springs and tines to suit a vast range of equipment. Cast points are stocked for Sunflower, Salford, Vibroflex, Coil Tine Grubbers, Mowtown to Clough Maxitills. Our range of cattle ramps are popular as they are solidly built with enclosed sides so cattle walk on to them well. They can be moved around with front end loaders, have good width and not too steep. Our range of cradle hay feeders are very popular with sheep, beef, deer and dairy farmers. Sheep farmers use them for fattening lambs and dairy farmers use them all year round in dairy laneways or for sick cows

“

I believe in carrying good stocks of most things as I don’t think farmers should have to be told we will post it out

and colostrum cows. Mower and rake tines were in demand at this time of year. The business has a wide assortment of after market tines and blades for all types of machinery. We sell Morris oils and greases. A very large range of Bare Co products which will be on display at the field days. Also in stock is a range of ripper points to fit onto subsoilers like Sumo, He-va, Panerator and Aitchison. Buck rakes is another item which have been popular for firewood blocks, branches, silage

and general farm use. Our buck rakes have conus 2 heavy duty tines which are 1250 long. We have found them to be very strong. We keep a large range of silage and bale fork tines with the different types from curved to spoon and standard available. A large range of P.T.O. shafts from 450mm to 2.0 metres in length, chain, dee shackles, tractor linkage balls, drawbar pins, top links and implement jacks from light to heavy duty. Advertising feature

RANGE OF PRODUCTS AVAILABLE ICE

FRO

$11

5 $17

M FRO 0 75

Bare Co Tractor Seats (black or blue)

$14

PTO Shafts, sizes 450mm up to 2M.

Produced by a local Canterbury engineer, our buckrakes are a must for any farmer. These are 2.4m wide heavy duty 1.25m tines.

Heavy Duty Quick Hitch. 28ml pin. Only one available.

FRO

IC $95 E 0

$12

Round bale feeder

IC $75 E 0

Feeders – 2.0m - 2.5m sizes available

Full range of Bare-Co accessories available

CALL IN AND SEE US AT THE FIELD DAYS

Cast Points. Suit Salford/ Sunflower, Duncan, Vibroflet, Mowtown. 10% Discount for February/March.

126 Dobson Street, Ashburton - Phone: 03 308 2059 | Mobile: 0274 326 847 mcmullanent@xtra.co.nz - www.mcmullanenterprises.com

All prices exclude G.S.T

Farming

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SIAFD FEATURE

Lanolin based product a winner Prolan a lanolin based industrial lubricant and corrosion inhibitor made here in New Zealand has many uses within the agricultural and industrial sectors for preventing corrosion and lubricating machinery. Commercial operators as well as farmers have found Prolan Enduro Heavy Grade when applied to a vehicle chassis is excellent as a rust preventative on 4WD, fertiliser loaders, truck, bus and motorhome chassis. In fact, it works that well that many vehicle-testing stations are recommending a coating of Prolan to prevent corrosion. A spray of Prolan on moldboards and ploughing equipment prevents rust and keeps them clean and in good condition. It is the unique ability of the lanolin in Prolan that penetrates into metal components that prevents corrosion. Prolan saves the life of machinery exposed to air and moisture whilst out in the field or during storage. Around the workshop and for general maintenance

Prolan Enduro Heavy Grade coating being applied to Landrover chassis to stop rust.” PHOTOS SUPPLIED

Prolan’s Enduro Medium Grade works well as a general lubricant – penetrating into seized bolts – chains and other moving parts. Prolan is so versatile it replaces many other workshop lubricants and is used to stop squeaks as well as to prevent rust long-term. Farmers and contractors have noticed that

Prolan stays on once applied saving repetitive maintenance. For example an orchard mulching contractor found by applying Prolan to his flails on his machine he saved time on repeat applications, instead of lubricating daily he used Prolan once a week for maintenance. A coating of Prolan Enduro Medium

Grade is excellent on a quadbike chassis as it prevents corrosion caused by manure and salt. With the added benefit that a coldwater blast will not remove the Prolan coating, it stays on preventing corrosion and keeping the frame in top shape. In the Prolan product range

there is also an anti-seize grease, which is very popular for assembly of components. A small smear of Prolan grease applied to bolts or pins when assembling equipment ensures they can be undone years later. It also minimises parts replacement as these can be removed easier instead of by force which results in breakage if no anti-seize has been applied. The Prolan product range is made up of natural NZ wool lanolin, which ticks the boxes for environmentally friendliness and biodegradability - safe on the environment as well as the user. Prolan saves time, work and money. By simply applying a spray of Prolan to farm machinery and equipment it lasts a lot longer and increases its resale value. Visit us at the Southland Agricultural Fieldays site 912 near the eastern entrance and see how “sheep n a can” really works or visit our website www.prolan.co.nz Facebook: Prolan New Zealand. Advertising feature

Stop Rust with “Sheep n a Can” ‘Lanolin Natural Long-lasting Protection’ Available from Farmlands, Anzor Fasteners, Ullrich Aluminium, Drummond & Etheridge FREE CAN with any Field Days purchase on presentation of this ad.

• Quadbike + vehicle chassis • Fertiliser loaders • Boat motors & trailers • Machinery & tools South Island Site 912 Eastern entrance

www.prolan.co.nz Ph: 0800 776 526

www.guardianonline.co.nz

SIAFD FEATURE

New products at SIAFD Minimise toxin risk Sebco diesel stations, Blue stations for AdBlue® and Waste Oil Tanks are proudly manufactured in Ashburton by Fuel Storage Systems Ltd and are ideally suited for New Zealand conditions. The company has been distributing their Sebco products all over New Zealand to the farming and industry sectors since 2007. Their products are New Zealand’s number one choice for fuel storage and dispensing. End users all over the country are impressed with the products that make meeting compliance issues and dayto-day fuel handling easy. These units are designed to ensure the cleanest possible fuel is pumped efficiently to protect expensive engines. The Sebco diesel stations come in sizes from 1300 litres to 4800 litres, and are the only EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) approved plastic bunded diesel storage tanks in New Zealand. This makes them fully HSNO compliant in New Zealand, a hugely important issue in today’s safety conscious and regulated environment. Their tanks are even featured on the front of Worksafe NZ’s “Above Ground Fuel Storage on Farms – Good Practices Guidelines”. See their website www.sebco.co.nz for more details.

As well as diesel stations, Sebco also manufacture a range of Waste Oil Recovery Units and Blue Stations. Sebco continues to develop products, striving to meet the needs of an ever changing market. An example of this is the latest addition to the oil recovery line-up. Sebco has just introduced the Sebco 1000l Commercial Oil Recovery unit. This is a little brother to the 2000l version that has been popular with commercial users. The 1000l unit is designed for farmers and smaller commercial users of oil. It is a fully bunded system designed for clean storage of used oil ready for recycling. Sebco will be at the upcoming South Island Agricultural Field Days in Kirwee in March. It will be displaying a good range of products and are looking forward to seeing new and existing clients. For more information visit the Sebco website www.sebco.co.nz or phone 0800 473 226. Advertising feature

Globally there is a rapidly increasing interest in mycotoxins. One of the certainties in life is that mould spores are never too far away. Given the right conditions, spores become established as moulds and they in turn can, under certain conditions, produce toxic compounds known as mycotoxins. Recent international surveys for the presence of mycotoxins have turned up wide ranges in results from different regions. The most comprehensive of the examinations are indicating that mycotoxins are present in greater than 80 per cent of feedstuffs for animals at some level with many feedstuffs having multiple mycotoxins present. The focus on mycotoxins for both animal and humans is increasing globally. In particular at present, recent drought conditions in Australia have given rise to increased scrutiny regarding mycotoxin contaminated feedstuffs. With the increasing level of interest on mycotoxins around the world, considerable research has gone into developing enhanced testing methods, which have in turn provided science with better tools to research the phenomenon that is mycotoxins. This means for dairy producers on the farm that the understanding of

D AF

I tS a us 2 e e s 1-4 e 4 m C Co Site

the challenge is growing, allowing for development of suitable strategies to minimise risk to their herds. With over 500 identified toxins, accurate analysis becomes very challenging. Traditional methods are more qualitative. Although they are a little less expensive, they can really be thought of as confirmation tests. They are often restricted to single toxins, with comparatively lower levels of accuracy. More modern methods increase both the accuracy of analysis, and also allow for multiple mycotoxin analysis in a single test. The 37+ Programme from Alltech allows for analysis of 44 different toxins in a single test, to a very high degree of accuracy. Furthermore it allows for analysis in complete rations, not just single ingredients. It is important to keep monitoring raw materials for mycotoxins as analytical capability grows, even more so in a world where so much is traded internationally. To be forewarned is to be forearmed. – Nigel Meads nmeads@alltech.com

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Mycotoxin control is critical Safeguarding the health of your animals starts with the quality of your feed. Produced by moulds, mycotoxins affect animal performance and producer profitability in a number of ways. Effective mycotoxin management is about seeing the whole challenge. From the farm to the feed mill and from risk assessment to feed management, the ALLTECH® MYCOTOXIN MANAGEMENT programme helps safeguard the health of your animals, the quality of your feed and the security of our food supply.

Your animals are your business. Protecting them is ours.

newzealand@alltech.com | 0800 822 322

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SIAFD FEATURE

Innovators in the dairy industry PPP Industries Ltd is a proudly owned New Zealand company that has been designing, manufacturing, and installing innovative agriculture equipment for over 50 years. Whether our customers be fellow New Zealanders or off-shore clientele, we make it our business to ensure our customers are supplied quality livestock equipment that can help them achieve healthier, more efficient, and more profitable farming operations. When it comes to experience, look no further. PPP proudly installed New Zealand’s very first in-shed dairy feed system back in 1967. Since then, we have made continuous adjustments and introduced new features to our products, ensuring they are kept up-to-date with stateof-the-art technology. PPP has a nationwide team of dedicated installers and after-sales dealerships, ranging from Kaitaia down to Invercargill, guaranteeing prompt after-sales support.

enable the use of powder, the system supports powder or pellets

PRESS SCREW SEPARATOR (PSS) FEED SYSTEMS Standard HB feed systems come equipped with our new evolution dispenser or with our advanced patented Experto Feeder (type “Experto Feeder” into Youtube for a video demonstration). Options for both systems include mineral and molasses add-ons. The Experto development also allows for the integration of EID readings in HB sheds. PPP offers a wide range of general spare parts that are used in most feed systems, and these are offered at very competitive prices. Rotary systems come equipped with high back stainless feed trays with anti-robbing bars and tray supports that ensure a quality robust product is supplied. The system can also be fitted with platform dispensers for

feed and mineral add-ons.

FEED MILLS

Australian dairy farmers consider the Skiold Disc mill to be one of the most reliable machines on the market. Whether you’re milling for small-scale farming operations or commercially, this machine does it all. With the advantage of milling grain to a higher standard than other milling systems as well as fewer maintenance requirements

than traditional roller mills, you can see why farmers are trading in their old milling systems.

MINERAL ADDITIVE SYSTEMS

An in-line mineral system or platform mineral dispenser means you can stop drenching and paddock dusting – save time and money! Ability to add 30g to 140g per kg of feed Fitted with vibrators to

The PSS separates solids from liquids in slurry waste. PPP imported the first separators into NZ in 2001 so we have great knowledge on how these systems work and how they should be set up. With a great after-sales support team you can rest assured that your farming operations will run smoothly.

THE PPP SENSOR JETTER

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Cooling compliance considerations We are often asked a simple question: My farm is noncompliant, what should I do to comply with the milk cooling regulations? The answer to this question can be wide and varied depending on a number of factors and for this reason each and every situation and dairy operation needs to be looked at on its own merits. To provide the best and most suitable options, we would need to know the following: • What is the current milk entry temperature into the milk silo? Is this the worst case? • What are the peak milk volumes and flow rates for both morning and afternoon milkings? • What refrigeration capacities are currently employed on the respective milk silos? • What are the milk silo fill preferences i.e. which silo is filled when and with how much milk? Where the current compliance is marginal, we may recommend energy

•

Murray Hollings

•

COOLING OFF

saving products such as milk silo insulation wraps or electronic expansion valves as these will improve compliance by reducing losses and improving refrigeration performance. These products also provide tangible and significant energy savings and a reasonably short payback on capital employed. Where farms are significantly non-compliant, more capital will need to be spent to increase the refrigeration capacity employed. Some farms will be able to comply with a simple upgrade of the refrigeration equipment cooling milk in the milk silos. This may require the addition of units (where a single unit does a base and side wall

•

of a milk silo) or replacing a refrigeration unit with a larger, more efficient unit. Many farms however, will require the milk to enter the milk silo(s) at a significantly lower temperature. Most medium to larger farms or those with warmer than usual milk entry temperatures will be in this position. The best options for these farms will depend on several factors including:

•

Available power during milkings (and cost to upgrade if inadequate) • Whether the farmer wants to futureproof the operation for future tightening of the regulations When deciding on your best solutions for Snap-chilling, keep the following in mind: • Tank water storage systems have been superseded by much

•

more effective and efficient snap-chilling systems Glycol is being discouraged for direct milk cooling due to contamination concerns Glycol is also being discouraged through milk silos (instead of conventional refrigeration units) Conventional refrigeration systems are more efficient at cooling milk in milk silos than glycol and provide redundancy in the case of a glycol system breakdown Storage systems are by nature less efficient and more expensive than direct cooling systems.

OUR ADVICE Install a modern, packaged water chiller to directly cool the milk prior to entering the milk silo and utilise refrigeration units (new or existing) on the milk silos. Murray Hollings is the owner of Dairycool

VISIT US AT SITE M123 AT THE FIELD DAYS

NEW TECHNOLOGY

Snap-chilling milk to storage temperature range using water (no risk of glycol milk contamination) • Packaged ‘plug and play’ systems • Stainless steel evaporator • Simple installation and operation

• Energy-saving high tech design • Heat recovery (heating hot water using the heat removed from the milk) 45 Robinson Street, Ashburton Phone 03 307 8903 www.dairycool.co.nz

• Low maintenance • Cost-effective and won’t break the bank Contact Lee Gilbert today for all your dairy farm cooling systems enquiries on 027 334 4365.

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Invest in protection A milestone year

Rugged Valley seat covers have been used and abused in the roughest testing grounds by fishermen, hunters, tradies, sparkies, four-wheel drivers and weekend enthusiasts. Hard working Kiwis tend to give their vehicles a tough time, both on the demanding worksite and on the weekend. Tried and true, Rugged Valley seat covers have survived the heaviest punishment and have been put to test in harsh New Zealand conditions. Rugged Valley seat covers are 100per cent waterproof, tailor made to fit your specific vehicle right here in NZ. Utes, trucks, vans, tractors, excavators, quads and ATVs, we’ve got you covered. From Mercedes vans, to the latest model Mitsubishi Triton, or your faithful ol’ Suzuki Jimny for the farm. Rugged Valley is attending the South

Island Field Days, where you can find us at Site 883, we would love to have a chat. We will let you in on our Field Days Discounts, and hard-wearing NZ made products. Now stocking the PVC moulded SandGrabba Floormats, vehicle specific designed to trap the mud. All with a five year guarantee. No need to be precious that you are damaging the automotive cloth, or your leather interior. Jump right on in. Time to protect your seats and floor from your lifestyle, and future proof your resale value? Not attending Field Days, that’s okay, we still have you covered. Shop online at ruggedvalley.co.nz. Or, call us to invest in your protection 0800 478 443.

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It’s a momentous year for CRV Ambreed. This year the company celebrates its 50th year in business as a leader, innovator, and major contributor to the success of New Zealand’s dairy industry. Mark Duffy, South Island sales manager, says without the long-term support of our breeders and progeny test farmers CRV Ambreed would not exist today. “It’s an incredibly proud time for our team who have always been passionate and committed to improving the livelihoods of dairy farmers in New Zealand,” says Duffy. “Now part of one of the largest artificial breeding companies in the world, we’ve come a long way in the last 50 years.” The company was set up by a small group of like-minded farmers in 1969 under the company name Animal Breeding Services Ltd with an initial focus on genetics for the beef industry, importing French Charolais sires, that were then crossed with Hereford and Angus cattle. In 1970 the founders began operating out of a bull centre on the outskirts of Cambridge and changed their focus to produce dairy semen for the NZ market. At the time, It was the first privately owned company in NZ to

AT FIND US 8 &C SITE C7 HE INSIDE T D COVERE EE MARQU

operate a licensed artificial insemination (AI) centre. With the backing of CRV’s worldleading research and innovation, herd recording, animal evaluation indexing and expertise in dairy cattle development, CRV Ambreed has led the way in innovations in genetics, including Fertabull, a unique three sire per straw beef product in 2007, New Zealandproven sexed semen in 2008, and genomically selected bull teams in 2011 to give dairy farmers access to elite young sires prior to their fouryear proof. In more recent years, CRV Ambreed has introduced homozygous polled (hornless) genetics, which will produce calves that will not need costly and time-consuming de-budding, and launched the lown sires team, new environmentally sustainable genetics with low MUN. Today, CRV Ambreed distributes about 1.5 million straws of semen each year to domestic and export markets from its CRV Bellevue Production and Logistics Centre. “As a business, our goal is to help dairy farmers achieve their best possible herd. A herd they love to milk, and we’re looking forward to the future, proudly leading the way to create better cows and help make life better for farmers and the industry,” says Duffy. Advertising feature

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Farming

SIAFD FEATURE

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When effluent hits the fan Kliptank started building effluent tanks in 2007 when dairy effluent systems in those days were antiquated and had not been keeping pace with development in the rest of the dairy technology sector. Ten years later and Kliptank has revolutionis ed the effluent industry. Using modern waste water treatment processes to help farmers get the most value out of their effluent – increasing milk production, lowering farm costs and ultimately improving farm profitability. The main innovation that propelled Kliptank to be the industry leader is the Klipjet Aeration and Stirring system which uses effluent pumps to mix the tank hydraulically. Not only do Klipjets minimise sludge build-up and prevent crusting, but our studies on the soil and grass irrigated by our treated effluent have been proven to: • Increase dry matter • Improve herbage quality • Improve soil condition and health • Increase worm count • Correct soil pH • Fixate volatile nutrients into the soil • Reduce pathogens • Reduce odour • And most importantly of all – cows prefer eating the grass Come and talk to us at Stand 324 about an effluent solution that is right for you. Advertising feature

Jet

Farm owner Dave Stephens showcases his Kliptank and Klipjet treatment system.

PHOTO SUPPLIED

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SIAFD FEATURE

The best ballcock

Hidden cameras

The SIS ballcock was a concept of Ray Collins. I have shot ducks on Ray’s farms for over 40 years and we have shared many (at times somewhat crazy) engineering projects. Ray processes designs in his mind and with the ballcock I couldn’t picture his design in my mind. So he made one. We made five, then we made 10, then we made 50 – now we do runs of a 1000. Ray has had a lifetime of frustration with ballcocks that prompted his comment “make the best ballcock in the world”. They are all made from 316 marine grade stainless steel. They have no internal parts – the sealing face is on the exterior. Our design is so simple your children, your wife, your bank manager would able to understand how the SIS valve works. A farm in our area has 300 troughs, this property has 20 per cent of ballcocks fail every year, that is 60 a year, of those 60 at least 10 per cent of those will be less than a year old. An independent trial showed at 52 psi with 50mm pipework to the ballcock gave a flow rate of 13 cubic metres per hour. We are now 5 years into producing ballcocks and not one has failed. Many thanks to Ray Collins, Ross Symes and Terry Nelley. These

We know well the pains of rural We know well the pains of rural New Zealanders. We help safeguard New Zealanders. We help safeguard you from theft, trespassing, you from theft, trespassing, disgruntled workers and exdisgruntled workers and exemployees and help you manage employees and help you manage current employees with the use of current employees with the use of surveillance cameras. surveillance cameras. All camera footage is timed and All camera footage is timed and dated. So if you have an incident dated. So if you have an incident you can go to the date and catch the you can go to the date and catch the thieves in the act. thieves in the act. Latest technology, high resolution Latest technology, high resolution images of all people captured on images of all people captured on surveillance. If you have an incident, surveillance. If you have an incident, the police can come and download the the police car come and download the camera footage onto a USB stick. The camera footage onto a USB stick. The courts convict the thief, you get to courts convict the thief, you get to sleep easy. sleep easy. Have peace of mind knowing your Have peace of mind knowing your system is covered with a three year system is covered with a three year warranty. No extra charge. Now that’s warranty. No extra charge. Now that’s service. service.

“

We are now five years into producing ballcocks and not one has failed

farmers gave me access to their properties for the development process. Ray Collins gets free ballcocks for the rest of his life.

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Up to four cameras can be connected Up to four cameras can be connected for multiple area monitoring e.g. for multiple area monitoring e.g. driveway, fuel tank, tool shed and milk driveway, fuel tank, tool shed and milk vat. vat. The unit will hold one to two The unit will hold one to two months of information via a rewriting months of information via a rewriting hard drive system. Early footage is hard drive system. Early footage is

automatically deleted and replaced automatically deleted and replaced with new footage, thereby always with new footage, thereby always providing a full hard drive of current providing a full hard drive of current information. information.

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Registration capture is our specialty Registration capture is our specialty with excellent results both day and with excellent results both day and night with footage being viewed via night with footage being viewed via the internet and smartphones. the internet and smartphones. All Seasons Security Ltd has been All Seasons Security Ltd has been installing security systems on farms in installing security systems on farms in rural New Zealand for 19 years and is rural New Zealand for 19 years and is an approved licensed installer for the an approved licensed installer for the Ministry of Justice. Ministry of Justice.

Find Find us us at at Site Site 171 171 at at the the South South Island Agricultural Field Days! Island Agricultural Field Days!

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Fertigation – it’s the way of the futur Recently you may have seen articles about fertigation in the Rural News and national papers. They focused on how fertigation can be a way to reduce labour costs and spreading costs. Whilst in Nebraska with Irrigation NZ tour, I visited a large farmer who was using fertigation successfully to increase his N efficiency and increase crop yields. Average yields for one area was 220 bushels/acre and the farmer yields were 300 bushels/acre. Average N efficiency was increased from 0.56 to 0.86%. That will make farmers with low N base levels smile, but not fertiliser companies!! Irrigation NZ has been successful in being granted funding from Sustainable Farming Fund supported by industry to conduct a trail on nitrogen consumption and N loss to the environment on irrigated Canterbury dairy farms. Dairy farms are being targeted by environmental groups as they know by research conducted at Lincoln

On site at the University of Nebraska fertigation trial are (from left) – Raymond Willians, Ballance; Roo Hall, Pamu; Graeme Pile, PHOTOS SUPPLIED Rainer Irrigation.

university that 90 per cent of N leaching occurs in cows urine patches, (Dr K Cameron). One of the areas the SFF will focus on is N leaching on dairy farms. In Nebraska the NZ farmers asked the local farmers a lot of questions about fertigation

as they hadn’t heard about it a lot in NZ. Some of these questions and answers were: The Urea will rust out the pivots? No. The amount of urea that you apply is 100 litres/ ha but the amount of water applied per ha is 50,000 litres/ ha. Therefore the dilution

factor is 0.002 per cent. You could drink the water. It rains too much in Canterbury for fertigation to work? Well, our monthly rainfall averages from 110mm in spring through to 65mm in summer. That’s about the same as Canterbury. Yes sir

it is. The fertiliser will get washed through the root zone. If you apply urea when the soil is saturated, yes, but why would you waste that water when you don’t need to water. Look at your soil monitoring graph to see when it is best to

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SIAFD FEATURE

Mobile fertigation trailer designed, built and commissioned by Rainer Irrigation in use at Pamu’s, Waimakariri dairy farm in north Canterbury.

apply the fertiliser. Applying urea as a granule gives you a better coverage? No, as the spread of the granules changes with the size of the granules, large and small. Urea in water goes where the water goes and as most pivots have a DU of 80 per cent or better, this is

better than a urea spreader. Liquid urea is dearer than granular urea. If you consider the cost per unit of N, urea granule is $1.41 per N and liquid urea is $1.46. A 3 per cent increase in dollars, yet in the trials from Nebraska there is a 15% reduction in fertiliser use. The

farmer is better of by 12%. Money in the bank as they told the NZ farmers. As the man from a pivot factory told the Irrigation NZ group, the worst thing to apply through the pivot is water! So, what do you need to set up a fertigation system. First

speak to someone who knows about fertigation. Not a farmer who has used true liquid fertilisers and thinks they don’t work. Speak to someone who has experince in this field, there are not many of us out there but just ask a few people who you should talk to. They

will point you in the right direction. Look up the Irrigation NZ website, (irrigationnz.co.nz) and go to the fertigation manual booklet. Download it and read it at bedtime. Tell the wife that you will be saving money and she will be happy. As Andrew Patterson states: He saw applying fertiliser via pivots as a much more convenient option on his sheep and beef property, allowing him to save time through not having to spread it through trucks, while allowing him to use the fertiliser more efficiently. “With fertigation, you’re not putting on large amounts of fertiliser in one hit. You’re putting on smaller doses mixed with a little water, so you’re not losing fertiliser into the ground. We’ve had a tremendous response from the clover and grass.” So get on the phone or the net and call up the good fellas at Rainer irrigation. We designed and installed the fertigation unit at Pamu, Waimakariri. Advertising feature

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We’ve got dairying covered Adding modern technology to a farm dairy is widely recognised as one of the most effective ways to increase efficiency, improve productivity and manage your cows. New, exciting and fully integrated management tools from Waikato Milking Systems provide an enhanced level of performance and automation that will help you make more of the opportunity you have. Know your cows individually, know what they’re producing milking by milking, know if they’re sick - take action immediately. Waikato Milking Systems is receiving a high level of enquiry from South Island farmers keen to come and talk to our team about the company’s technology at the upcoming South Island Agricultural Field Days at Kirwee. Mark Craig, Waikato Milking Systems’ South Island sales manager said that current issues facing the industry suggest there will be a good turnout of farmers

seeking management systems that will enable them to gather valuable herd information they can translate into higher production and greater profit. Since its introduction late 2018 Waikato Milking Systems NaviGate Dairy Management System has attracted interest from farmers globally and given the diversity of South Island farms in particular, we’re

anticipating a significant level of interest at Kirwee. NaviGate Management systems, are easily retrofitted into most farm dairies and provide insights which enable greater efficiency and production. Craig said with the new milk cooling regulations, farmers are obligated to review this aspect of their dairy to ensure compliance. There

are significant savings to be made from selecting the right cooling solution. Cooling milk accounts for 30 per cent of the total energy costs of the farm dairy. “We’ve got a range of cooling options that will ensure farmers economically meet industry standards and save the ongoing operational costs thereafter.” Farmers interested in

upgrading their current dairies will have the opportunity to discuss their options including electronic cup removers, pulsation and cluster options. “We are anticipating a higher level of interest in our range of power saving variable speed vacuum and milk pumps drives. When combined these products offer improved efficiency and a further opportunity to reduce operational costs.” Craig said that aside from promoting new and existing products, Waikato Milking Systems’ (site 271) is a place to discuss your farming goals, a place to work through a plan whereby we can help you grow the production and profit of your farm, a place where you can talk to people who know and understand your business. “Waikato Milking Systems’ offers a complete dairy solution, including milk cooling and effluent - we’ve got you covered,” Craig said. Advertising feature